Objectives: Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) induced by bleomycin (BLM) is one of the more common side effects encountered during cancer treatment. It has been suggested that the main responsible agent in PF is ROS which are generated also in normal metabolic conditions. In this study, we investigated the preventive or attenuating effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester that has been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory, cytocytatic, anticancerogenic, antiprolipherative and antioxidant effects on BLM-induced PF.

Material and Methods: Thirty-six rats were divided four groups as sham, BLM, BLM+vitamin E and BLM+CAPE groups. BLM intratracheally, CAPE ve vit E intraperitoneally were administred. At day 14th, lung tissues were removed, xanthine oxidase, adenosine deaminase ve glutathione peroxidase enzymes activity were determined.

Results: BLM application to the rats resulted in a significant increase in the XO and ADA activities as compared to the controls. Administration of CAPE and vit E led to the remarkable reduction of XO and ADA activities compared to the rats treated with BLM. There was a decreased in GSH-Px activity in BLM group to the control group. CAPE had a regulator effect on these parameters: the decreased in XO and ADA activities and the increased in GSH-Px activity were seen after CAPE application.

Conclusion: We suggest that CAPE is more effective on the prevention of BLM-induced fibrosis via antioxidant and free radical scavenger properties than vit E at the doses used in the present study. CAPE has some attenuating effects PF affecting both oxidant and antioxidant systems as well as purin catabolisation. ©2007, Firat University, Medical Faculty