Streptozotocin Therapy for Malignant Pheochromocytoma

Abstract

To the Editor. —Inoperable malignant pheochromocytoma is a difficult condition to treat as, to date, no effective anticancer therapy is available. Streptozotocin, a nitrosourea antibiotic has proved to be effective in islet cell tumors and other neoplasms of amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation (APUD) cell type. In view of the common embryological origin of these tumors and chromaffin tissue, several investigators have tried using streptozotocin for therapy of malignant pheochromocytoma with variable success. 1-4 Feldman, in the September 1983 issue of theArchives 4 reported a patient with a good response to the drug and suggested that the dosage schedule (2 g/mo) might be of importance in achieving a beneficial effect. We would like to report our experience with streptozotocin in a patient with a malignant paraganglioma (extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma) treated according to a similar regimen. Report of a Case. —A 45-year-old man had a two-year history of diabetes mellitus treated