plicamycin

English

Alternative forms

• mithramycin (UK)

Etymology

From translingual (Streptomyces) plica(tus) +‎ -mycin (“antibiotic derived from Streptomyces”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌplaɪ.kəˈmaɪ.sn̩/

Noun

plicamycin (uncountable)

1. (pharmacology) An antibiotic C₅₂H₇₆O₂₄ with antineoplastic activity which is produced by three bacteria of the genus Streptomyces (Streptomyces argillaceus, Streptomyces tanashiensis, and Streptomyces plicatus), acts by inhibiting DNA transcription and replication, and is administered intravenously especially in the treatment of malignant tumors of the testes or in the treatment of hypercalcemia and hypercalciuria associated with advanced neoplastic disease.

References

• “mithramycin”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
• “plicamycin”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.