Hypercalcemia of malignancy.

Abstract

Less than 25 years ago tumor-induced hypercalcemia was often a lethal complication of cancer. Nowadays, it can be treated easily and successfully in at least 90% of cases by volume repletion in addition to the use of bisphosphonates that are potent anti-osteoclastic compounds. The standard therapy consists of the administration of 90 mg pamidronate or, more recently, 4 mg zoledronic acid, a more efficient bisphosphonate. When available, another alternative bisphosphonate is ibandronate. Recurrent hypercalcemia is nevertheless difficult to control and antibodies against parathyroid hormone-related protein could be useful for that matter in selected patients who are not in the terminal stage of their disease. Prevention of tumor-induced hypercalcemia is one of the objectives of long-term therapy with bisphosphonates in patients with tumor bone disease. The use of bisphosphonates in placebo-controlled trials has shown that the incidence of hypercalcemic episodes is reduced by more than one half.

• Authors: Jean-Jacques Body
• Journal: Seminars in nephrology (Semin Nephrol) Vol. 24 Issue 1 Pg. 48-54 (Jan 2004) ISSN: 0270-9295 [Print] United States
• PMID: 14730509 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Diphosphonates
• Imidazoles
• Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein
• Zoledronic Acid
• Pamidronate

Topics

• Antineoplastic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Diphosphonates (therapeutic use)
• Forecasting
• Humans
• Hypercalcemia (diagnosis, drug therapy, etiology)
• Imidazoles (therapeutic use)
• Neoplasms (complications)
• Pamidronate
• Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein (metabolism)
• Zoledronic Acid