Phleomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic from Streptomyces whose cytotoxic action results from its ability to cause DNA fragmentation. The ability of phleomycin to block mammalian cells from entering mitosis has made it useful in cancer therapy, most commonly in conjunction with other therapeutic modalities. Phleomycin is also used, in conjunction with a vector carrying the bleomycin resistance protein ble, as a selective agent in the transformation of yeast, plant cells, and mammalian cells.
