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From a short description of a drug on a web-page:

A chemotherapy drug (an alkylating agent) indicated in malignant glyomas and melanoma.

Is it acceptable to use this phrase? I found examples of "indicated in pregnancy" but I'm unsure whether this usage translates to "malignant glyomas", since it's not a human health condition but a kind of tumor.

Should it always be "indicated in/for the treatment of malignant glyomas", or is it acceptable to cut corners here for brevity's sake?

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    Indicated has become medical shorthand for "suitable or recommended for the treatment of {malady}". The preposition varies, "indicated with, indicated in, indicated for". The drug is indicated for hypothyroidism. From 1900: books.google.com/… shows the old meaning.
    – TimR
    Commented Feb 9, 2017 at 11:51
  • Here is the new "shorthand" meaning: books.google.com/… The drug is indicated for life-threatening ventricular arhythmias...
    – TimR
    Commented Feb 9, 2017 at 11:57
  • @TRomano - yes, but glyoma is not a condition, like arrhythmia, but a tumor
    – CowperKettle
    Commented Feb 9, 2017 at 12:18
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    Any malady or condition, broadly understood, which responds to treatment would be a valid complement, these days, for {x} is indicated for {y}, where {x} is the treatment and {y} is that which responds to treatment. The treatment can be a drug regimen or a surgical procedure. books.google.com/…
    – TimR
    Commented Feb 9, 2017 at 14:14
  • @TRomano - so "Indicated in glyomas" is okay because glyomas respond to the treatment?
    – CowperKettle
    Commented Feb 9, 2017 at 14:20

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Normally you should use "abc medicine is indicated for treatment of xyz disease/condition." e.g. "...chemotherapy drug (an alkylating agent) is indicated in treatment of malignant glyomas and melanoma."

I would not sacrifice anything here for the sake of brevity, since this is disease treatment, and should be as specific as possible. Therefore, I would NOT use the phrase as given.

In the PDR (Physician's Desk Reference) https://www.drugs.com/pdr/ and other drug references you will usually see lists both of indications, and of contraindications, for a given drug. Both imply is and for the treatment of.

note: This is very unlike the literal Russian use, where a medicine, for example, is from a disease or condition: oт гoлoвнoй бoли.

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Answer: Yes, the phrasing is acceptable as written.

an indication in medical terms is defined as:

  • "a sign or circumstance that points to or shows the cause, treatment, or some other aspect of a disease." (Miller-Keane)

  • "The basis for initiation of a treatment for a disease or of a diagnostic test; may be furnished by a knowledge of the cause (causal indication), by the symptoms present (symptomatic indication), or by the nature of the disease (specific indication)." (Farlex)

Sources:
(Miller-Keane): indication. (n.d.) Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. (2003).

(Farlex): indication. (n.d.) Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary. (2012).

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