Cellular protection against the antitumor drug bleomycin

Dindial Ramotar*, Mustapha Aouida

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Bleomycin is a small glycopeptide antibiotic used for treating specific types of cancers. The antitumor effect of bleomycin is due to its ability to bind to DNA and induce the formation of a variety of toxic DNA lesions via a free radical reactive complex. However, the chemotherapeutic potential of bleomycin is limited, as it causes pulmonary fibrosis and tumor resistance at high doses associated with membrane and DNA damage, respectively. Bleomycin has been extensively studied and the details of its chemical structure and modes of action are known, which provide a foundation towards improving its therapeutic value, as well as that of other model anticancer drugs. This chapter provides an overview of the structure of bleomycin and its deleterious effect on various cellular targets. In addition, several factors that could limit the genotoxicity of bleomycin are highlighted, although the most important of these involves a transporter that mediates uptake of bleomycin into the cells and DNA repair mechanisms. Thus, defects in this transporter would allow cancerous cells to evade the antitumor effects of bleomycin.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAdvances in DNA Repair in Cancer Therapy
PublisherSpringer New York
Pages187-209
Number of pages23
ISBN (Electronic)9781461447412
ISBN (Print)9781461447405
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2013
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Cellular protection against the antitumor drug bleomycin'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this