Ectopic adrenocorticotrophic (ACTH) syndrome and small cell carcinoma of the lung—assessment of clinical implications in patients on combination chemotherapy

Abstract

Small cell carcinoma of the lung is the tumor most commonly associated with ectopic ACTH production and hypercortisolism. The relationship between this paraneoplastic endocrine syndrome and the clinical course of the tumor is examined in this review of patients with the ectopic ACTH syndrome and small cell carcinoma seen at The Johns Hopkins Oncology Center between 1973 and 1979. Five of 157 (3.2%) patients with small cell carcinoma were clinically diagnosed as having the ectopic ACTH syndrome. The onset of this endocrine syndrome appeared to coincide with a more aggressive phase of the course of small cell carcinoma. Further analysis of these cases suggests that the development of the ectopic ACTH syndrome may reflect changes in cell populations within the tumor and/or alterations in tumor behavior with time and perhaps with the effects of drug therapy.

The orofacial expressions of lung cancer

“…The former is confined to patients with small-cell carcinoma: the latter Is unrelated to cell type. In a recent study 19 of 157 subjects with small-cell carcinoma of the lung. five (3.2%) were clinically diagnosed as having ectopic ACTI-1 syndrome.…”

Ectopic Corticotropin Syndrome and Small-cell Carcinoma of the Lung

“…( (1) sex, (2) age, (3) the nature of the first symptoms, (4) weight loss of 10% or more of total weight, (5) performance status (6) the date of histologie diagnosis, (7) the clinical features related to Cushing's syndrome, (8) the date of the first clinical features, and (9) the date of diagnosis of ec¬ topic corticotropin syndrome. Since biochemical data were collected during a period of 20 years, there was variability in the endocrine assessment.…”

A Case of Ectopic Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Syndrome in Small Cell Lung Cancer

“…SCLC and bronchial carcinoids account for about half of the cases but it can appear in various tumors like pancreas cancer, medullary thyroid cancer, thymoma and pheochromocytoma. Clinical Cushing syndrome secondary to ectopic ACTH production is uncommon, occurring in 3.2%-4.5% of SCLC patients 5 6 . The patients generally present with electrolyte disturbances rather than typical cushingoid feature.…”