Paraneoplastic Syndromes Flashcards

1
Q

What are Paraneoplastic Syndromes?

A
Systemic effects of cancer
May involve hormones/other factors
Usually unrelated to the tissue of origin 
May be more detrimental than the tumor
May be the first symptom
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2
Q

What is Cancer Cachexia?

A

Profound state of malnutrition and weight loss despite adequate nutrition

A paraneoplastic syndrome

More common in cats

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3
Q

Clinical Significance of Cancer Cachexia

A

Decreased QOL
Decreased response to treatment
Decreased survival time

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4
Q

Cancer Cachexia Mechanism

A

Cancer stealing all energy!
Glucose is preferred substrate for cancer cells
Tumor cells incomplete glucose metabolism; molecules of ATP
Lactate is produced as an end product
Energy expended converting lactate back to glucose
Gluconeogenesis increases; net energy loss by host –> protein degradation (muscle wasting, decreased immune function, decreased wound healing)
Lipolysis occurs to provide energy for host

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5
Q

Cancer Cachexia

Treatment

A

Provide 30-50% of non-protein calories as fat vs. CHO

Provide adequate calories (1.5 to 3 times that of normal animals)

Cannot decrease intake because cancer will cause hypoglycemia

Best to stick to regular diet and give them more of the food

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6
Q

What is Hills N/d

A

Cancer diet

Actually caused diarrhea in dogs; malabsorption

Not shown to improve outcome or maintain weight

Only tested on dogs with lymphoma (stage III)

Not shown to starve cancer

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7
Q

What is a common labwork abnormality in both dogs and cats with cancer?

A

Hypercalcemia

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8
Q

Ectopic hormone production
Hypercalcemia
Tumor types

A

Lymphosarcoma
Anal sac Apocrine gland adenocarcinoma

Multiple myeloma
Thymoma
Parathyroid gland adenomas
Mammary carcinomas
SCC
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9
Q

Ectopic hormone production
Hypercalcemia
Mechanisms

A

Ectopic tumor produced parathomone like peptides (PTHrp)

True hyperparathyroidism (PTH)

Vitamin D like factors

Tumor production of osteoclast activating factor

Direct bone lysis (rare)

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10
Q

Ectopic hormone production
Hypercalcemia
Clinical Signs

A

Anorexia
Vomiting
PU/PD
Muscle weakness

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11
Q

Ectopic hormone production
Hypercalcemia
Diagnosis

A

Can be difficult if concurrent disease (renal)
Careful search for potential neoplasia
Assays for PTH, PTHrp
Avoid symptomatic therapy that may interfere with diagnosis (glucocorticoids)

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12
Q

Primary hyperparathyroidism
Serum Calcium
Serum Phos

A

Ca: slightly high
Ph: low

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13
Q

Vitamin D Toxicosis
Serum Calcium
Serum Phos

A

Ca: High to very high
Ph: High

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14
Q

Malignant humoral hypercalcemia
Serum Calcium
Serum Phos

A

Ca: High to very high
Ph: Normal or low

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15
Q

Bone lysis
Serum Calcium
Serum Phos

A

Ca: High
Ph: Normal or high

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16
Q

Ectopic hormone production
Hypercalcemia
Treatment Goals

A

Increase renal excretion of calcium (diuresis)
Inhibit bone reabsorption
Prevent calcium deposition in tissue
Promote external loss of Ca

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17
Q

Ectopic hormone production
Hypercalcemia
Treatment

A

Treat underlying disease!

Saline diuresis
Furosemide (inhibits reabsorption at loop of Henle)
Glucocorticoids

Bisphosphonates

18
Q

Bisphosphonates
Example
What they do

A

Pyrophosphate analogues (Pamidronate)

Keeps Ca in the bone
Helps patient when hypercalcemia is making them clinically ill

19
Q

Ectopic hormone production
Hypoglycemia
Causes

A
Insulinoma
Hepatic tumors (not making glucose)
Leiomyoma/Leiomyosarcoma
Oral melenoma
Lymphosarcoma
20
Q

Hypoglycemia

Clinical Signs

A

Weakness
Tremors
Seizures

21
Q

Ectopic hormone production
Hypoglycemia
Treatment

A

Feed frequently; high protein better than high CHO but avoid giving too much sugar (hepatic overload)

Glucose IV or orally (careful with insulinoma)

Glucocorticoids; increase hepatic gluconeogenesis (okay to do this prior to diagnosis)

Eventually need to address tumor; stabilize first

22
Q

Ectopic hormone production

Treatment of Insulinoma

A

Causes hypoglycemia

Remove the underlying problem/tumor (prognosis; 14 months)

Streptozotocin; antineoplastic agent with affinity for pancreatic islet cells (nephrotoxic, must administer with fluids); could induce diabetes mellitus

+/-Tocernib (Palladia)

23
Q

Ectopic Hormone Production
Erythropoietin
Tumor examples

A

Causes polycythemia

Renal cell tumors
Lymphosarcoma
Hepatic tumors
Nasal fibrosarcoma

24
Q

Ectopic Hormone Production
Erythropoietin
Clinical Signs

A

Polycythemia

Neurologic; motor or sensory depression, dullness, lethargy, seizures

Hemorrhage (epitaxis, hyphema)

25
Q

Ectopic Hormone Production
Erythropoietin
Treatment

A

Polycythemia

Phelbotomy (bleed them)
Remove or treat primary tumor
Hydroxyurea (suppresses bone marrow; decreases RBC production)

26
Q

Hypertrophic Osteopathy

What is it?

A

Pain, reluctance to move, “swollen legs or swollen joints” – very painful

Periosteal proliferation of new bone along the shafts of long bones

27
Q

Hypertrophic Osteopathy

Radiographic findings

A

Thickening of long bones; proliferative bone

Associated with large thoracic or abdominal cavity mass (unknown mechanism)

28
Q

Hypertrophic Osteopathy

Treatment

A

Treat or remove primary tumor

Corticosteroids

NSAIDs; has been proven to help

Bisphosphonates

29
Q

Fever and Neoplasia

A

Cancer is always a DfDx for fever of unknown origin

Possible cytokine release by tumor or macrophages responding to tumor (IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-alpha)

30
Q

Cancer Hematologic Abnormalities (broad)

A

Failure of production
Loss
Sequestration (tumor or spleen)
Destruction

31
Q

Cancer Hematologic Abnormalities

Anemia

A
Chronic inflammation
Blood loss
Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (HSA0
IMHA
Chemotherapeutic drugs
Bone marrow infiltration with tumor
Hyperestrogenism (sertoli cell tumor)
32
Q

Cancer Hematologic Abnormalities

WBC

A

Leukocytosis
Common
Granulopoietic factors
Inflammation

Chronic inflammation

Note: rebound after chemotherapy leukopenia or anemia

33
Q

Cancer Hematologic Abnormalities

Platelets

A

Thrombocytopenia
35% of dogs with tumors
Mechanism: decreased production, sequestration, increased consumption, increased destruction

Thrombocytosis
Chronic inflammation

34
Q

Cancer Hematologic Abnormalities

Globulins

A

Hypergammaglobulinemia:
PU/PD, neurologic signs, bleeding, more signs secondary to tumor

Monoclonal gammopathy
Single clone of Ig-producing cells

35
Q

Cancer Hematologic Abnormalities
Globulins
Tumor types

A

Plasma cell tumors (sky high globulins)
Lymphoma
Leukemia

36
Q

Cancer: Neurologic Syndromes (3)

A

Myasthenia gravis

Peripheral neuropathies

Chemo related neurologic toxicity

37
Q

What causes Myasthenia gravis (cancer wise)

A

Thymoma

Anti-Ach receptor antibody

38
Q

Drug that should be avoided in cats

A

5 Flurouracil

Seizures and death

39
Q

Cancer Dermatologic Syndromes (3 main)

A

Cutaneous flushing

Nodular dermatofibrosis in German Shepherds

Alopeica

40
Q

Cancer Dermatologic Syndromes

What causes cutaneous flushing

A

Pheochromocytoma

Mast cell tumors (degranulation)

41
Q

Cancer Dermatologic Syndromes

Nodular dermatofibrosis

A

Rare

German Shepherds! Autosomal dominant inheritance

Lumps and bumps everywhere

Linked to renal cysts or cystadenocarcinomas

42
Q

Cancer Dermatologic Syndromes

What causes alopecia

A

Pancreatic carcinomas in cats – pathopneumonic