Syndromes of Ectopic Hormone Production in Cancer

Abstract

Certain tumor tissues are capable of ectopic hormone production. In fact, some tumors, such as oat cell carcinoma, may produce two or more hormones. Each of these hormones elicits metabolic and systemic responses similar to those that would be noted if their normal counterparts were produced in excessive amounts by the appropriate endocrine tissue. The treatment of choice for a client with an ectopic syndrome is surgical removal of the causative tumor. If this is not possible, other treatment modalities such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, employed singly or as an adjunct to surgery, may be employed. Whatever modality is chosen, nurses play an important role in teaching, providing physical and psychological support, following through on nursing and medical prescriptions, and communicating effectively with other health care members. The study of ectopic hormone production is an exciting and relatively new facet that relates to cancer management. Nurses can no longer be satisfied with attributing manifestations such as weakness and restlessness to such conditions as cerebral metastases, for example. Oncology nurses are challenged to recognize manifestations of these new dimensions in cancer management.