Tumor lysis syndrome following docetaxel therapy for extensive metastatic prostate cancer

Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS) is characterized by biochemical changes due to rapid tumor lysis of malignant cells, usually after chemotherapy. Typically it is seen in patients with hematologic malignancies sensitive to chemotherapy within days of receiving chemotherapy. Recently Baeksgaard and Sorensen reviewed the small number of cases of TLS after treatment of nonhematologic malignancies reported between 1977 and 2002. After careful review of the literature, I describe what appears to be to the first reported case of TLS associated with chemotherapeutic treatment of metastatic prostate cancer.