Definition

Plicamycin is also known as mithramycin and Mithracin. The medicine kills cancer cells. It may be used to treat cancer of the testicles. In addition, it may be used as treatment for hypercalcemia. Hypercalcemia is a condition characterized by high levels of calcium in the blood.

Purpose

Plicamycin is a drug used to treat testicular cancer in patients who are not good candidates for either surgery or x-ray therapy.

Plicamycin is also used to treat hypercalcemia. Many patients with hypercalcemia also have elevated levels of calcium in the urine. As treatment for this condition, plicamycin may not be a doctor's first...