Definition

Bleomycin (Blenoxane) kills cancer cells by damaging the genetic material known as DNA, thus preventing cells from repairing themselves.

Purpose

Bleomycin is used in the treatment of a number of different cancers, including cancer of the head and neck, skin, esophagus, lung, testis, penis, vulva, cervix, and genitourinary tract. In addition, it is used in the treatment of Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. It may also be used to treat Kaposi's sarcoma.

Because bleomycin is used in the treatment of so many different cancers, only a sampling of its uses can be provided here. In the treatment of Hodgkin's...