The fist antitumour antibiotic to be clinically evaluated was actinomycin. Since then various other antitumour antibiotics have been used including actinomycin D, bleomycin, daunorubicin, epirubicin, doxorubicin, and mitomycin.
It is believed that these antibiotics mediate their chemotherapeutic effects by intercalating or binding to DNA and interfering with transcription. Also some antibiotics inhibit topoisomerase function, an enzyme that is important in maintaining DNA integrity.
These drugs must all be administered parenterally. None of these drugs can be safely administered intrathecally.
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