Growth hormone therapy in non-islet cell tumor mediated hypoglycemia associated with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Severe hypoglycemia is a rare but serious sequela of malignancy. It may be seen with either islet or non-islet cell tumors. Treatment of non-islet cell tumor mediated hypoglycemia (NICTH) is often challenging, especially when rapid tumor debulking is not feasible. Medical therapies with glucocorticoids and enteral feeds have been utilized in the past, but with limited success. The use of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) in cases of NICTH, although seemingly effective, has been limited to end-stage cancers, due to its potential for accelerating tumor growth. Here, we report the successful use of rhGH in severe and refractory NICTH, in a patient with non-operable metastatic lung adenocarcinoma, without altering the patient's oncological outcome.