CEBR1-06

Production and site-specific delivery of bleomycin for treatment of cancer

Researchers:

Ibrahim Abdullah Ibrahim Alsarra, Ph.D.

Fars Kaed Masoud Alanazi, Ph.D.

Hesham H. Radwan, Ph.D.

Alaa Eldeen Bakry Yassin, Ph.D.

Mohsen A. Bayomi, Ph.D.

Gamal M. El Magharby, Ph.D.

Abdullah H. Alomrani, Ph.D.

Ibrahim M. El-Bagory, Ph.D.

ABSTRACT:

The incidence of cancer has increased over the last 25 years in Saudi Arabia. Bleomycin (BLM) is a glycopeptide antibiotic that is used in treatment of variety of human neoplasms, particularly lymphomas, squamous cell carcinoma and germ-cell tumors. Cytotoxicity of BLM once inside the cell is very high, but limited due to the poor uptake into the cells, which was shown to be receptor mediated endocytosis. Bleomycin has been identified as the most effective anti-cancer drug among many tested when delivered intracellularly by electroporation. Bleomycin is currently produced by fermentation. Production of antibiotic anticancer is considered the most important useful application of the current pharmaceutical biotechnology.

Generally antibiotics are produced by batch fermentation using free cell cultures. To enhance the productivity and improve the economics, much attention has been paid on the improvement of the culture employed in the antibiotics production. The large scale production technology is lacking in Saudi Arabia and in most of the developing countries.

OBJECTIVES:

The aim of this project is to transfer and implement fermentation technology to KSA and utilize it in the production of BLM in economical quantities and design novel drug delivery systems that ensure superior therapeutic efficacy and much less toxic profile than the currently marketed products of BLM.