An intravenous bolus injection of mithramycin (25 μg per kilogram) was given to patients with malignancy‐related hypercalcemia persisting after hydmtion. In most instances a gradual but steady fall in the serum calcium occurred within the next 48 hours, accompanied by a fall in serum inorganic phosphate and 24 hour urinary calcium excretion. Patients with head and neck cancer, cancer of the lung, and multiple myeloma were somewhat less responsive as a group than patients with cancer of the breast or kidney. Aside from transient nausea and vomiting, side effects were minimal. Small doses of mithramycin inhibit bone resorption; dactinomycin and other RNA inhibitors block the action of vitamin D in vitro. The hypocalcemia following administration of these agents may be an expression of their antivitamin D action.
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Slayton et al. (1971) studied this question.