Long-term follow-up of stage III testicular carcinoma treated with mithramycin (plicamycin).

In 1965 we reported mithramycin (plicamycin) to produce objective regression in 7 of 12 patients with advanced testicular carcinoma. Between 1963 and 1975 mithramycin was administered to 62 patients with advanced testicular carcinoma as the initial chemotherapy and to 30 patients who failed to respond to prior chemotherapies. There were 13 complete regressions (23%) in 56 patients who as initial chemotherapy received more than one course of mithramycin. The median follow-up is 23 years with 10 patients still alive. A partial regression occurred in 11 (18%), all of whom are dead. Of 30 patients receiving mithramycin after prior chemotherapies, none had a complete regression, 5 had a partial regression, and all are dead. Of 13 patients undergoing complete regression, 85% never had a recurrence of testicular carcinoma. The median follow-up of 23 years implies that these patients are cured.