Paraneoplastic syndromes are diseases or symptoms caused by cancer but not by direct involvement of cancer cells. They occur in 10-15% of cancer patients and are most common in lung, breast, ovarian, and lymphoma cancers. Paraneoplastic syndromes can be divided into four main categories: endocrine, neurological, mucocutaneous, and hematological. Common examples include Cushing syndrome from ectopic ACTH production, dermatomyositis affecting the skin and muscles, and Trousseau syndrome causing blood clots.
2. • A paraneoplastic syndrome is
a disease or symptom that is the
consequence of cancer in the body but,
not due to the local presence of cancer
cells.
• These phenomena are mediated
by humoral factors (by hormones
or cytokines) excreted by tumor cells or by
an immune response against the tumor.
3. • They appear in 10% to 15% of
patients with cancer.
• Paraneoplastic syndromes are typical
among middle aged to older patients,
and they most commonly present with
cancers of the lung, breast, ovaries or
lymphatic system (a lymphoma).
4. • Paraneoplastic syndromes
can be divided into four
main categories:
1.Endocrine
2.Neurological
3.Mucocutaneous
4.Hematological
5. Syndrome class Syndrome
Main causal
cancers
Causal mechanism
Endocrine
Hyperaldosteronism
•Adrenal
adenoma / Conn's
syndrome
•Non-Hodgkin's
lymphoma
•ovarian
carcinoma
Aldosterone
Cushing syndrome
•small-cell lung
cancer
•Pancreatic
carcinoma
•Thymoma
Ectopic ACTH and
ACTH-like
substance
SIADH
•Small-cell lung
cancer
Antidiuretic
hormone
26. References
• Paraneoplastic Syndromes, 2011, Darnell & Posner
• NINDS Paraneoplastic Syndromes Information Page National
Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Darnell,R.B., DeAngelis,L.M. (1993), "Regression of small-cell
lung carcinoma in patients with paraneoplastic neuronal
antibodies", Lancet 341 (8836): 21–22,
• Roberts,W.K., Darnell,R.B. (2004), "Neuroimmunology of the
paraneoplastic neurological degenerations"
• Albert,M.A., Darnell,R.B. (2004), "Paraneoplastic
neurological degenerations: keys to tumour
immunity", Nature Reviews Cancer 4 (1): 36–
44, PMID 14708025
• Paraneoplastic endocrine syndromes at the US National
Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)