Doxorubicin for acromegaly: a case report

We report the case of an acromegalic woman, aged 35 years, with a huge GH-secreting tumor, repeatedly treated with neurosurgery and radiotherapy, not responsive to bromocriptine (Br) and octreotide (SMS), whose clinical picture evolved to coma due to endocranic hypertension. Since remnant size was too large to be further treated by surgery, chemotherapy with doxorubicin (DOX) (100 mg i.v. every three weeks up to 0.5 mg/m2 over 7 months) was started. Treatment was followed by a rapid improvement of clinical picture with resumption out of coma, progressive decline of GH levels (from 800 ng/ml to 15 ng/ml) and a slight shrinkage of tumor. No side effects were observed during DOX administration. We suggest that in those few acromegalic patients resistant both to SMS and Br, and with poor prognosis, DOX may be effectively used.