[Tissue levels of bleomycin administered as suppository]

We prepared a bleomycin suppository, aiming not only at allowing bleomycin to be transferred into the malignant tumor tissue of the intrapelvic organs and their regional lymph nodes at high levels but also at preventing transient elevation of its level in the blood. This administration route might be effective on the primary lesions of urogenital malignant tumors and their metastases to the regional lymph nodes, and prevent systemic adverse reactions. To prove these effects, we determined the levels of bleomycin in the tissue, blood, lymph nodes, urine and stools following intrarectal application of the bleomycin suppository. The pattern of bleomycin uptake by the intrapelvic tissues showed that the drug was retained by tumor tissue at high levels for a long time, compared with that by the normal tissue. Its levels in the blood suggested the reduction in systemic adverse reactions. Its uptake by the regional lymph nodes was unexpectedly low, but this may be attributed to an early collection of the tissue after the application. We think it necessary to follow up changes in bleomycin level in the tissues collected at predetermined intervals.