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Blenoxane

Brand Name:	Blenoxane	Trade Name:	bleomycin sulfate
FDA Approved For:	BLENOXANE should be considered a palliative treatment. It has been shown to be useful in the management of the following neoplasms either as a single agent or in proven combinations with other approved chemotherapeutic agents: Squamous Cell Carcinoma Head and neck (including mouth, tongue, tonsil, nasopharynx, oropharynx, sinus, palate, lip, buccal mucosa, gingivae, epiglottis, skin, larynx), penis, cervix, and vulva. The response to BLENOXANE is poorer in patients with previously irradiated head and neck cancer. Lymphomas Hodgkin's Disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Testicular Carcinoma Embryonal cell, choriocarcinoma, and teratocarcinoma. BLENOXANE has also been shown to be useful in the management of: Malignant Pleural Effusion BLENOXANE is effective as a sclerosing agent for the treatment of malignant pleural effusion and prevention of recurrent pleural effusions.	Pediatric Use:	Safety and effectiveness of BLENOXANE in pediatric patients have not been established.
Carcinogen:	The carcinogenic potential of BLENOXANE in humans is unknown. A study in F344-type male rats demonstrated an increased incidence of nodular hyperplasia after induced lung carcinogenesis by nitrosamines, followed by treatment with bleomycin. In another study where the drug was administered to rats by subcutaneous injection at 0.35 mg/kg weekly (3.82 units/m2 weekly or about 30% at the recommended human dose), necropsy findings included dose related injection site fibrosarcomas as well as various renal tumors.	Mutagen:	Bleomycin has been shown to be mutagenic both in vitro and in vivo.
Manufacturer and/or Distributor:	Bristol-Myers Squibb

Adverse Reactions:

Pulmonary This is potentially the most serious side effect, occurring in approximately 10% of treated patients. The most frequent presentation is pneumonitis occasionally progressing to pulmonary fibrosis. Approximately 1% of patients treated have died of pulmonary fibrosis. Pulmonary toxicity is both dose and age related, being more common in patients over 70 years of age and in those receiving over 400 units total dose. This toxicity, however, is unpredictable and has been seen occasionally in young patients receiving low doses. Some published reports have suggested that the risk of pulmonary toxicity may be increased when bleomycin is used in combination with G-CSF (filgrastim) or other cytokines. However, randomized clinical studies completed to date have not demonstrated an increased risk of pulmonary complications in patients treated with bleomycin and G-CSF. Because of lack of specificity of the clinical syndrome, the identification of patients with pulmonary toxicity due to BLENOXANE (bleomycin sulfate for injection, USP) has been extremely difficult. The earliest symptom associated with BLENOXANE pulmonary toxicity is dyspnea. The earliest sign is fine rales. Radiographically, BLENOXANE-induced pneumonitis produces nonspecific patchy opacities, usually of the lower lung fields. The most common changes in pulmonary function tests are a decrease in total lung volume and a decrease in vital capacity. However, these changes are not predictive of the development of pulmonary fibrosis. The microscopic tissue changes due to BLENOXANE toxicity include bronchiolar squamous metaplasia, reactive macrophages, atypical alveolar epithelial cells, fibrinous edema, and interstitial fibrosis. The acute stage may involve capillary changes and subsequent fibrinous exudation into alveoli producing a change similar to hyaline membrane formation and progressing to a diffuse interstitial fibrosis resembling the Hamman-Rich syndrome. These microscopic findings are nonspecific; e.g., similar changes are seen in radiation pneumonitis and pneumocystic pneumonitis. To monitor the onset of pulmonary toxicity, roentgenograms of the chest should be taken every 1 to 2 weeks. If pulmonary changes are noted, treatment should be discontinued until it can be determined if they are drug related. Recent studies have suggested that sequential measurement of the pulmonary diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLco) during treatment with BLENOXANE may be an indicator of subclinical pulmonary toxicity. It is recommended that the DLco be monitored monthly if it is to be employed to detect pulmonary toxicities, and thus the drug should be discontinued when the DLco falls below 30% to 35% of the pretreatment value. Because of bleomycin's sensitization of lung tissue, patients who have received bleomycin are at greater risk of developing pulmonary toxicity when oxygen is administered in surgery. While long exposure to very high oxygen concentrations is a known cause of lung damage, after bleomycin administration, lung damage can occur at lower concentrations that are usually considered safe. Suggested preventive measures are: 1. Maintain FI O2 at concentrations approximating that of room air (25%) during surgery and the postoperative period. 2. Monitor carefully fluid replacement, focusing more on colloid administration rather than crystalloid. Sudden onset of an acute chest pain syndrome suggestive of pleuropericarditis has been rarely reported during BLENOXANE infusions. Although each patient must be individually evaluated, further courses of BLENOXANE do not appear to be contraindicated. Pulmonary adverse events which may be related to the intrapleural administration of BLENOXANE have been reported only rarely. Idiosyncratic REACTIONS In approximately 1% of the lymphoma patients treated with BLENOXANE (bleomycin sulfate for injection, USP), an idiosyncratic reaction, similar to anaphylaxis clinically, has been reported. The reaction may be immediate or delayed for several hours, and usually occurs after the first or second dose. It consists of hypotension, mental confusion, fever, chills, and wheezing. Treatment is symptomatic including volume expansion, pressor agents, antihistamines, and corticosteroids. Integument and Mucous Membranes These are the most frequent side effects, being reported in approximately 50% of treated patients. These consist of erythema, rash, striae, vesiculation, hyperpigmentation, and tenderness of the skin. Hyperkeratosis, nail changes, alopecia, pruritus, and stomatitis have also been reported. It was necessary to discontinue BLENOXANE therapy in 2% of treated patients because of these toxicities. Skin toxicity is a relatively late manifestation usually developing in the 2nd and 3rd week of treatment after 150 to 200 units of BLENOXANE have been administered and appears to be related to the cumulative dose. Intrapleural administration of BLENOXANE has occasionally been associated with local pain. Hypotension possibly requiring symptomatic treatment has been reported infrequently. Death has been very rarely reported in association with BLENOXANE pleurodesis in these very seriously ill patients. Other Vascular toxicities coincident with the use of BLENOXANE in combination with other antineoplastic agents have been reported rarely. The events are clinically heterogeneous and may include myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, thrombotic microangiopathy (HUS) or cerebral arteritis. Various mechanisms have been proposed for these vascular complications. There are also reports of Raynaud's phenomenon occurring in patients treated with BLENOXANE in combination with vinblastine with or without cisplatin or, in a few cases, with BLENOXANE as a single agent. It is currently unknown if the cause of Raynaud's phenomenon in these cases is the disease, underlying vascular compromise, BLENOXANE, vinblastine, hypomagnesemia, or a combination of any of these factors. Fever, chills, and vomiting were frequently reported side effects. Anorexia and weight loss are common and may persist long after termination of this medication. Pain at tumor site, phlebitis, and other local reactions were reported infrequently. Malaise was also reported as part of postmarketing surveillance. )

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