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Doxorubicin for acromegaly: a case report.
R Attanasio1, P Orlandi, D Dallabonzana
1Division of Endocrinology, Ospedale Niguarda, Milano, Italy.
Journal of Endocrinological Investigation
|June 1, 1991
Summary
Doxorubicin effectively treated a resistant acromegaly case. This growth hormone-secreting tumor treatment led to coma recovery and tumor shrinkage in a patient unresponsive to other therapies.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Oncology
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Acromegaly is a disorder caused by excess growth hormone (GH).
- Large GH-secreting pituitary tumors can be challenging to treat, especially when resistant to standard therapies like bromocriptine and octreotide.
- This case involves a 35-year-old woman with a massive, treatment-resistant GH-secreting tumor leading to severe complications.
Observation:
- The patient presented with endocranic hypertension and coma due to the large tumor.
- Previous treatments including neurosurgery, radiotherapy, bromocriptine, and octreotide were ineffective.
- The tumor remnant was too large for further surgical intervention.
Findings:
- Chemotherapy with doxorubicin (DOX) was initiated as a last resort.
- DOX treatment resulted in rapid clinical improvement, including recovery from coma.
- Significant reduction in GH levels (from 800 ng/ml to 15 ng/ml) and slight tumor shrinkage were observed.
- No adverse side effects were reported during doxorubicin administration.
Implications:
- Doxorubicin may be a viable therapeutic option for select acromegaly patients resistant to standard treatments.
- This finding offers a potential treatment pathway for patients with poor prognoses and limited therapeutic alternatives.
- Further research into doxorubicin's efficacy and safety in acromegaly is warranted.