A review of the bleomycin experience in the United States

As bleomycin has up to now proved effective when used alone, the main thrust of current clinical investigations predominantly concerns its use in combination with other drugs. This has occurred along three broad patterns: 1) combination with vinca alkaloids which has been mainly in testicular carcinoma; 2) as part of multidrug regimens where bleomycin added for its lack of myelosuppression. This has occurred in the malignant lymphomas, lung cancer, and head and neck cancer; 3) in combination with radiotherapy which has taken place mostly in head and neck cervix cancer. To date, the combination of velban and bleomycin has had a major impact in improving the ability to induce complete remissions in advanced testicular carcinoma. Other drugs such as cis-platinum diaminedichloride and actinomycin D have been added and no definitive combination has been established. In the lymphomas the addition of bleomycin to the MOPP or CVP regimen has given higher complete response rates, but long-term survival data are still awaited.