Bleomycin 15,000unit powder for solution for injection vials

Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) frequently complicates advanced cancer and impairs quality of life. Chemical pleurodesis with agents such as bleomycin or povidone iodine is widely used, but comparative efficacy and safety remain uncertain. Bleomycin is an established agent but is costly and less available, whereas povidone iodine is affordable and easily accessible. This study aimed to systematically compare the efficacy and safety of bleomycin versus povidone iodine for pleurodesis in patients with malignant pleural effusions. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Semantic Scholar, and the Google Scholar were searched through May 20 th 2025. Studies included randomized controlled trials and cohort studies comparing bleomycin and povidone iodine for pleurodesis in patients with MPE. Seven studies with 392 patients (174 in the povidone iodine group, 218 in the bleomycin group) were included. Success rates for pleurodesis ranged from 71.1% to 100% for povidone iodine and 66.7% to 95.2% for bleomycin. Meta-analysis showed no significant difference in efficacy (RR = 1.04, 95% CI: 0.94–1.15, p = 0.50; I 2 = 43%). Both agents were well tolerated, with similar rates of mild adverse events. This study showed no significant bias. Povidone iodine and bleomycin are equally effective and safe for pleurodesis in MPE. Given its lower cost and greater accessibility, povidone iodine may be preferred, especially in resource-limited settings.

Abstract licence: CC BY

Cutaneous metastases in patients with incurable cancer represent a significant problem as they often cause pain, discomfort, and emotional distress that affect everyday life. Finding treatment options that are both effective and gentle is essential. ECT offers one such possibility. Here, short, high-voltage electrical pulses are applied directly to the tumor, briefly opening tumor cells, allowing chemotherapy to enter more effectively and kill cancer cells. Traditionally, patients receive 15.000 IU/m2 of bleomycin intravenously, but emerging evidence suggests that a lower dose may be just as effective while causing fewer side effects. This protocol describes an ongoing double-blinded, randomized clinical trial that tests whether ECT with half the standard bleomycin dose is non-inferior to the conventional regimen for tumor control in patients with cutaneous metastases. The article outlines randomization and blinding procedures, pretreatment evaluation, bleomycin preparation and administration, electrode placement, pulse delivery, and response evaluation using the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST) criteria. In addition to clinical response at three months, the protocol includes pharmacokinetic blood sampling and qualitative interviews with the patients to enable a comprehensive evaluation of treatment impact. Baseline tumor characteristics from the first 15 enrolled patients and an example of how mRECIST is applied are presented. Critical steps to ensure methodological rigor are discussed, including standardized tumor measurements, consistent electrode positioning, and predefined management of confluent or poorly demarcated tumors. By visually outlining the procedural workflow and key methodological considerations, this article provides a reproducible framework for dose optimization in ECT. It supports future implementation of reduced-dose regimens in clinical oncology practice.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND

Cellular senescence is a hallmark of age-related disorders, including cancer, in which senescence contributes to tumor progression and treatment resistance. Targeting senescent cells therapeutically requires noninvasive methods to longitudinally monitor senescence burden. Here, we present an injectable nanoprobe for noninvasive detection of therapy-induced senescence in lung cancer and pulmonary fibrosis via urine testing. Using human biopsy samples, clinical transcriptomic datasets and mouse models, we identify matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) as a specific biomarker of senescence in lung cancer and bleomycin-induced fibrosis. We develop ALBANC, a nanoprobe composed of human serum albumin linked to gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) through MMP-7-cleavable peptide linkers. MMP-7-mediated cleavage releases AuNCs that are renally excreted, enabling rapid and sensitive colorimetric urine detection via a nanoparticle growth-based assay, enabling longitudinal tracking of cisplatin-induced senescence and senolysis in mouse lung tumors and fibrosis. This approach offers a noninvasive and sensitive precision tool for monitoring senescence burden in lung cancer.

Abstract licence: CC BY