Paraneoplastic Syndromes Flashcards
What are Paraneoplastic Syndromes?
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
What is Cancer Cachexia?
Profound state of malnutrition and weight loss despite adequate nutrition
A paraneoplastic syndrome
More common in cats
Clinical Significance of Cancer Cachexia
Decreased QOL
Decreased response to treatment
Decreased survival time
Cancer Cachexia Mechanism
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
Cancer Cachexia
Treatment
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
What is Hills N/d
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
What is a common labwork abnormality in both dogs and cats with cancer?
Hypercalcemia
Ectopic hormone production
Hypercalcemia
Tumor types
Lymphosarcoma
Anal sac Apocrine gland adenocarcinoma
Multiple myeloma Thymoma Parathyroid gland adenomas Mammary carcinomas SCC
Ectopic hormone production
Hypercalcemia
Mechanisms
Ectopic tumor produced parathomone like peptides (PTHrp)
True hyperparathyroidism (PTH)
Vitamin D like factors
Tumor production of osteoclast activating factor
Direct bone lysis (rare)
Ectopic hormone production
Hypercalcemia
Clinical Signs
Anorexia
Vomiting
PU/PD
Muscle weakness
Ectopic hormone production
Hypercalcemia
Diagnosis
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)
Primary hyperparathyroidism
Serum Calcium
Serum Phos
Ca: slightly high
Ph: low
Vitamin D Toxicosis
Serum Calcium
Serum Phos
Ca: High to very high
Ph: High
Malignant humoral hypercalcemia
Serum Calcium
Serum Phos
Ca: High to very high
Ph: Normal or low
Bone lysis
Serum Calcium
Serum Phos
Ca: High
Ph: Normal or high
Ectopic hormone production
Hypercalcemia
Treatment Goals
Increase renal excretion of calcium (diuresis)
Inhibit bone reabsorption
Prevent calcium deposition in tissue
Promote external loss of Ca