Paraneoplastyczne zespoły nerwowe
Etiologia i przyczyny

Paraneoplastyczne zespoły nerwowe (PNS) to rzadkie, autoimmunologiczne zaburzenia neurologiczne powstające w przebiegu nowotworów, najczęściej drobnokomórkowego raka płuca (SCLC), raka piersi, jajnika, jąder oraz chłoniaków. Patogeneza PNS wiąże się z nieprawidłową ekspresją antygenów onkoneuronalnych przez komórki nowotworowe, co prowadzi do produkcji przeciwciał skierowanych przeciwko tym antygenom, które krzyżowo reagują z tkanką nerwową. Przeciwciała te dzieli się na wysokiego ryzyka (związane z nowotworem w >70% przypadków) oraz pośredniego i niskiego ryzyka (30-70% i <30%). Mechanizmy immunologiczne obejmują zarówno odpowiedź humoralną, jak i komórkową, z udziałem cytotoksycznych limfocytów T, co tłumaczy często oporny na leczenie charakter PNS. Objawy neurologiczne rozwijają się zwykle ostro lub podostro, często poprzedzając rozpoznanie nowotworu (w około 60% przypadków), i obejmują m.in. neuropatie obwodowe, zapalenie mózgu limbicznego, zespół Lamberta-Eatona, miastenię gravis, dysautonomię oraz zwyrodnienie móżdżkowe. Diagnostyka opiera się na wykrywaniu specyficznych autoprzeciwciał w surowicy lub płynie mózgowo-rdzeniowym oraz wykluczeniu innych przyczyn neurologicznych, a także na obrazowaniu PET w celu lokalizacji guza.

Patofizjologia paraneoplastycznych zespołów nerwowych

Paraneoplastyczne zespoły nerwowe to grupa rzadkich zaburzeń neurologicznych, które rozwijają się u niektórych osób chorujących na nowotwory. Stanowią one odległe efekty choroby nowotworowej, które nie są spowodowane bezpośrednio przez guz ani jego przerzuty, metaboliczne i żywieniowe niedobory, infekcje, koagulopatie czy efekty uboczne leczenia przeciwnowotworowego.123

Mechanizm immunologiczny

Badacze uważają, że paraneoplastyczne zespoły nerwowe są spowodowane przez zdolności układu odpornościowego do zwalczania nowotworów. W szczególności w proces ten zaangażowane są przeciwciała i określone białe krwinki, znane jako komórki T. Zamiast atakować wyłącznie komórki nowotworowe, te elementy układu odpornościowego atakują również zdrowe komórki układu nerwowego.14

Zjawisko to ma charakter autoimmunologiczny – układ odpornościowy pacjenta reaguje nieprawidłowo na obecność nowotworu, wytwarzając przeciwciała przeciwko antygenom onkoneuronalnym, które są wspólne zarówno dla komórek nowotworowych, jak i dla układu nerwowego.56 Proces ten powoduje krzyżową reakcję immunologiczną, w której przeciwciała skierowane przeciwko komórkom nowotworowym atakują również zdrowe tkanki nerwowe.7

Istnieją dwie główne kategorie przeciwciał związanych z paraneoplastycznymi zespołami neurologicznymi:68

  • Przeciwciała skierowane przeciwko antygenom wewnątrzkomórkowym (dawniej nazywane „onkoneuronalnymi”) – obecnie określane jako „przeciwciała wysokiego ryzyka” (związane z nowotworem w >70% przypadków)
  • Przeciwciała skierowane przeciwko antygenom powierzchniowym neuronu lub białkom synaptycznym – określane jako „przeciwciała pośredniego ryzyka” (związane z nowotworem w 30-70% przypadków) lub „niskiego ryzyka” (związane z nowotworem w <30% przypadków)

6

Mechanizm komórkowy polega na tym, że nowotwory związane z zespołami paraneoplastycznymi mogą zawierać warianty genów kodujących białka onkoneuronalne, szczególnie wysoce immunogenne antygeny, które są również ekspresjonowane przez komórki ośrodkowego układu nerwowego i które aktywują układ odpornościowy.6

Ekspresja antygenów onkoneuronalnych

Patogeneza PNS (paraneoplastycznych zespołów nerwowych) jest obecnie wiązana z nieprawidłową ekspresją w guzie antygenu, który normalnie jest wyrażany tylko w układzie nerwowym.5 W szczególności, nowotwory wykazują ekspresję białek neuronalnych (antygenów onkoneuronalnych), które normalnie są ograniczone do neuronów lub innych immunologicznie uprzywilejowanych miejsc, takich jak jądra.9

Ta ektopowa ekspresja antygenów neuronalnych przez komórki nowotworowe prowadzi do uruchomienia odpowiedzi immunologicznej charakteryzującej się wysokimi mianami przeciwciał skierowanych przeciwko antygenowi onkoneuronalnemu. W niektórych przypadkach geny kodujące antygeny rozpoznawane przez autoprzeciwciała zostały zidentyfikowane, sklonowane i zsekwencjonowane. Niektóre z tak zidentyfikowanych białek są białkami wiążącymi RNA, ale ich specyficzna funkcja nie została określona.9

Badania immunohistochemiczne potwierdzają ekspresję odpowiednich antygenów w różnych typach nowotworów, w tym w drobnokomórkowym raku płuca (SCLC), nasieniaku jądra i raku jajnika.10 Tłumaczy to, dlaczego niektóre rodzaje nowotworów (szczególnie SCLC) są częściej związane z PNS.11

Rola przeciwciał i komórek T

Chociaż odkrycie przeciwciał onkoneuronalnych doprowadziło do powszechnie akceptowanej hipotezy, że PNS są zaburzeniami immunologicznymi, rola tych przeciwciał w dysfunkcji neurologicznej nie jest jasna.5 W przypadku niektórych zespołów, jak zespół miasteniczny Lamberta-Eatona (LEMS), udowodniono rolę przeciwciał, gdyż nieprawidłowości elektrofizjologiczne charakterystyczne dla LEMS mogą być odtworzone, gdy immunoglobuliny G (IgG) od pacjentów z LEMS podawane są zwierzętom doświadczalnym.5

Jednak w przypadku wielu innych zespołów paraneoplastycznych przeciwciała wydają się być jedynie markerem autoimmunizacji i nie powodują choroby.5 Ostatnio sugerowano, że mechanizmy odporności komórkowej odgrywają kluczową rolę w patogenezie PNS.5 W szczególności, cytotoksyczne limfocyty T (CD4 i CD8) są aktywowane wraz z odpowiedzią humoralną.12

Ta złożoność immunologiczna może wyjaśniać, dlaczego PNS są często oporne na terapię.12 Aktywacja mikrogleju prowadzi następnie do gliozy i utraty neuronów, co powoduje objawy neurologiczne.12

Czynniki przyczynowe paraneoplastycznych zespołów nerwowych

Nowotwory najczęściej związane z zespołami paraneoplastycznymi

Paraneoplastyczne zespoły nerwowe mogą wystąpić w przebiegu dowolnego nowotworu, jednak najczęściej są związane z określonymi typami nowotworów.13 Do nowotworów najczęściej powodujących PNS należą:141516

  • Rak płuca (szczególnie drobnokomórkowy rak płuca – SCLC)
  • Rak piersi
  • Rak jajnika
  • Nowotwory jądra
  • Nowotwory układu limfatycznego (chłoniaki)
  • Nowotwory hematologiczne
  • Rak rdzeniasty tarczycy
  • Nowotwory ginekologiczne
  • Rak prostaty

141718

Drobnokomórkowy rak płuca (SCLC) jest szczególnie istotny w kontekście PNS – u około 3% pacjentów z SCLC rozwija się zespół miasteniczny Lamberta-Eatona, a jeden lub więcej PNS występuje u nawet 9% pacjentów z SCLC.198

Paraneoplastyczne neuropatie obwodowe dotykają 5-15% pacjentów z dyskrazjami komórek plazmatycznych związanymi ze złośliwymi gamapatiami monoklonalnymi.20 Natomiast paraneoplastyczne zapalenie mózgu limbicznego jest silnie związane z SCLC, występującym w 40% przypadków tego zespołu.21

Substancje wydzielane przez nowotwory

Niektóre nowotwory wydzielają substancje, takie jak hormony lub białka, które powodują nieprawidłowe funkcjonowanie określonych narządów w organizmie.22 Te wydzielane substancje mogą spowodować trwałe uszkodzenie bez odpowiedniego leczenia.23

Do substancji wydzielanych przez nowotwory, które mogą przyczyniać się do rozwoju PNS, należą:2425

  • Endogenne pirogeny (limfokiny lub pirogeny tkankowe) – mogą powodować gorączkę
  • Bioaktywne cząsteczki, takie jak alfa-limfotoksyna (czynnik martwicy nowotworu [TNF] alfa), peptydy i nukleotydy – mogą wpływać na metabolizm i powodować kacheksję
  • Białko podobne do parathormonu (PTHrP) – związane z hiperkalcemią nowotworową
  • Hormony ektopowe – takie jak ACTH (prowadzący do zespołu Cushinga) czy ADH (powodujący zespół nieadekwatnego wydzielania hormonu antydiuretycznego – SIADH)

242627

Przykładowo, 10-45% przypadków drobnokomórkowego raka płuca może produkować ektopowy ADH, prowadząc do SIADH, który objawia się nadmiernym wydalaniem sodu z moczem i hiponatremią.28 Podobnie, podwyższone poziomy ACTH mogą być wykrywalne u nawet 50% pacjentów z rakiem płuca, szczególnie z SCLC.29

Czynniki genetyczne i środowiskowe

Chociaż dokładna przyczyna paraneoplastycznych zespołów nerwowych pozostaje nieznana, istnieją czynniki, które mogą zwiększać ryzyko ich rozwoju:3031

  • Diagnoza nowotworu – samo występowanie choroby nowotworowej znacznie zwiększa ryzyko PNS
  • Określone mutacje genetyczne – mogą zwiększać predyspozycję do rozwoju zespołów paraneoplastycznych
  • Czynniki środowiskowe – takie jak palenie tytoniu lub narażenie na toksyny, mogą odgrywać rolę w rozwoju PNS

3031

Występują globalne różnice w diagnostyce i leczeniu PNS ze względu na różnice w systemach opieki zdrowotnej, dostępie do specjalistów i dostępności zaawansowanych narzędzi diagnostycznych.18

Manifestacja kliniczna paraneoplastycznych zespołów nerwowych

Najczęstsze zespoły paraneoplastyczne układu nerwowego

Paraneoplastyczne zespoły nerwowe mogą wpływać na dowolną część układu nerwowego – od kory mózgowej po złącze nerwowo-mięśniowe i mięśnie.2 Najczęściej występujące zespoły to:3233

  • Zwyrodnienie móżdżkowe – charakteryzujące się utratą komórek Purkinjego w móżdżku, powodującą podostrą dysfunkcję całego móżdżku z ataksją tułowia i kończyn
  • Zapalenie mózgu limbicznego – często związane z SCLC
  • Zespół miasteniczny Lamberta-Eatona (LEMS) – charakteryzujący się osłabieniem mięśni proksymalnych, głównie kończyn dolnych
  • Miastenia gravis (MG)
  • Dysautonomia
  • Zapalenie mózgu i rdzenia
  • Mielopatia
  • Neuromiotonia
  • Zespół opsoklonii-mioklonii – charakteryzujący się szybkimi, wielokierunkowymi ruchami gałek ocznych, szybkimi, mimowolnymi skurczami mięśni, ataksją, rozdrażnieniem i zaburzeniami snu
  • Neuropatia (neuropatia obwodowa)
  • Zespół sztywności uogólnionej (stiff-person syndrome)

323433

W przypadku podostrych neuropatii czuciowych, objawy zwykle zaczynają się od utraty wrażliwości wibracyjnej i czucia głębokiego, a następnie w ciągu ok. 12 tygodni postępują do upośledzenia odczuwania temperatury i bólu.35

Objawy neurologiczne

Paraneoplastyczne zespoły nerwowe wpływające na ośrodkowy układ nerwowy (mózg, rdzeń kręgowy) oraz obwodowy układ nerwowy (nerwy poza mózgiem i rdzeniem kręgowym) mogą powodować różnorodne objawy neurologiczne:7

  • Zawroty głowy
  • Podwójne widzenie
  • Trudności w mówieniu
  • Utrata pamięci
  • Napady padaczkowe
  • Osłabienie mięśni
  • Zmniejszone odruchy, czucie lub koordynacja
  • Utrata czucia w ramionach i nogach

7

Polineuropatia to dysfunkcja nerwów obwodowych (nerwów poza mózgiem i rdzeniem kręgowym), powodująca osłabienie, utratę czucia i zmniejszone odruchy.36 Podostra neuropatia czuciowa jest rzadką formą polineuropatii, która czasami rozwija się przed zdiagnozowaniem nowotworu.36

Różnorodne nietypowe objawy mogą wynikać z działania przeciwciał skierowanych przeciwko guzowi, które również oddziałują z tkanką mózgową, powodując zmiany funkcji umysłowych, dezorientację, zmiany widzenia i osłabienie mięśni.36 Zespół Eatona-Lamberta występuje u niektórych osób z drobnokomórkowym rakiem płuca.36 Podostra mielopatia/” title=”nekrotyzująca mielopatia” class=”to-tag” data-termid=”40649″>nekrotyzująca mielopatia to rzadki zespół, w którym szybka utrata neuronów w rdzeniu kręgowym prowadzi do paraliżu.36

Manifestacja czasowa

Paraneoplastyczne zespoły nerwowe często rozwijają się w sposób ostry lub podostry, w ciągu dni lub tygodni.37 Co istotne, w około 60% przypadków objawy neurologiczne pojawiają się przed rozpoznaniem nowotworu.338 Oznacza to, że rozpoznanie zespołu paraneoplastycznego może prowadzić do wczesnego wykrycia i leczenia nowotworu.39

Objawy często ewoluują przez tygodnie lub miesiące, a następnie stabilizują się, co odróżnia je od bardziej przewlekłych i postępujących chorób zwyrodnieniowych.40 Diagnozowanie paraneoplastycznych zespołów nerwowych jest stosunkowo proste u pacjentów, którzy doświadczają objawów dobrze zdefiniowanego zespołu, zwykle kojarzonego z nowotworem.40

W przypadku pacjentów z historią nowotworu lub tych, którzy niedawno weszli w remisję, rozwój paraneoplastycznego zespołu neurologicznego często zwiastuje nawrót guza.41

Diagnostyka paraneoplastycznych zespołów nerwowych

Kryteria diagnostyczne

Diagnostyka paraneoplastycznych zespołów nerwowych opiera się na kilku kryteriach:4243

  • Zwiększona częstość występowania u pacjentów z nowotworem
  • Sporadyczna odpowiedź zespołu neurologicznego na leczenie podstawowego nowotworu
  • Obecność specyficznych autoprzeciwciał
  • Wykluczenie innych przyczyn objawów neurologicznych

424344

Pierwszym krokiem w diagnostyce PNS jest wykluczenie innych etiologii, w tym infekcji, chorób tkanki łącznej, przyczyn metabolicznych, a nawet działań niepożądanych leków.44 Jeśli istnieją dowody na obecność nowotworu, a zespół neurologiczny jest typowy, diagnoza jest wysoce sugestywna dla PNS i dalsze testy na obecność przeciwciał onkoneuronalnych mogą być pomocne, ale nie są konieczne.44

W przypadkach, gdy PNS podejrzewa się na podstawie obrazu klinicznego, ale nowotwór nie został jeszcze wykryty, pełne badanie całego ciała za pomocą pozytronowej tomografii emisyjnej (PET) może wykryć guzy, które umykają standardowym metodom obrazowania.45

Przeciwciała paraneoplastyczne

Wykrywanie przeciwciał paraneoplastycznych w surowicy lub płynie mózgowo-rdzeniowym ma kluczowe znaczenie diagnostyczne:4645

  • Specyficzność niektórych paraneoplastycznych przeciwciał antyneuronalnych dla PNS lub określonych typów nowotworów czyni je użytecznymi narzędziami diagnostycznymi
  • We właściwym kontekście klinicznym wykrycie przeciwciała paraneoplastycznego w surowicy lub płynie mózgowo-rdzeniowym pomaga ustalić diagnozę i ukierunkować poszukiwanie nowotworu
  • Jeśli wykryte przeciwciało zwykle nie jest związane z zespołem neurologicznym pacjenta, należy rozważyć inne etiologie dysfunkcji neurologicznej
  • Jeśli wykryty nowotwór nie jest typem histologicznym zwykle związanym z przeciwciałem pacjenta, należy podejrzewać obecność drugiego nowotworu

45

Jeśli obecne są przeciwciała paraneoplastyczne, ale nowotwór nie został odkryty, należy założyć, że pacjent ma ukryty nowotwór, dopóki nie zostanie udowodnione inaczej.45 Specyficzność dla zespołów paraneoplastycznych jest dość wysoka, gdy przeciwciała przeciwko antygenom onkoneuronalnym, takim jak Hu, CV2/CRMP5, Yo i amfifizyna, są wykrywane wraz z kompatybilnym stanem neurologicznym.47

Testowanie na obecność przeciwciał paraneoplastycznych może ułatwić rozpoznanie jednoczesnego występowania dwóch lub więcej zespołów paraneoplastycznych u jednego pacjenta.48

Diagnostyka różnicowa

Diagnozowanie paraneoplastycznych zespołów może być trudne, ponieważ ich objawy nakładają się na wiele innych neurologicznych, autoimmunologicznych i zakaźnych chorób.18 W diagnostyce różnicowej należy wykluczyć:4935

  • Infekcje
  • Przerzuty
  • Przyczyny naczyniowe
  • Toksyczne efekty leków stosowanych w leczeniu nowotworów
  • Zaburzenia elektrolitowe
  • Hiperglikemia
  • Niepożądane skutki napromieniania lub chemioterapii
  • Inwazja lub ucisk korzeni nerwowych lub rdzenia kręgowego

4935

Wszystkie inne możliwe przyczyny powinny być wykluczone przed zdiagnozowaniem paraneoplastycznego i autoimmunologicznego zapalenia mózgu.49 W przypadkach szybko rozwijających się problemów poznawczych należy zbadać obecność nowotworu i zaplanować niezbędne testy i leczenie, biorąc pod uwagę możliwość zespołów paraneoplastycznych.49

Znaczenie kliniczne paraneoplastycznych zespołów nerwowych

Wpływ na rozpoznanie nowotworów

Paraneoplastyczne zespoły nerwowe mają istotne znaczenie kliniczne, ponieważ często są pierwszym objawem choroby nowotworowej.50 W około 60% przypadków objawy neurologiczne pojawiają się przed wykryciem nowotworu.338 Rozpoznanie PNS może zatem prowadzić do wczesnej diagnozy i leczenia ukrytego nowotworu.51

Zespoły paraneoplastyczne mogą być wskazówką dla lekarzy, aby sprawdzić szpik kostny pod kątem objawów nowotworów układu krwiotwórczego (MPN) lub poszukać innego nowotworu w organizmie.33 Czasami osoby mogą zauważyć objawy zespołu paraneoplastycznego przed dostrzeżeniem jakichkolwiek objawów związanych z podstawowym nowotworem.39

Obecność zespołu paraneoplastycznego może być jedynym wskazaniem, że pacjent ma nowotwór lub że nowotwór nawrócił.52 PNS mogą być przydatne jako kliniczne wskaźniki do oceny odpowiedzi podstawowego nowotworu na leczenie – ustąpienie zespołu paraneoplastycznego może korelować z odpowiedzią guza na leczenie.52

Rokowanie i wpływ na przeżycie

Szybka i skuteczna diagnoza oraz leczenie zespołów paraneoplastycznych ma kluczowe znaczenie, ponieważ zespoły te mogą wpływać na wyniki związane z nowotworem.3439 Obecność zespołów paraneoplastycznych może pogorszyć rokowanie podstawowego nowotworu, dlatego ważne jest rozpoznanie tych zespołów, gdy wystąpią.343933

Występuje złożona zależność między PNS a nowotworem – z jednej strony autoimmunizacja w zespołach paraneoplastycznych neurologicznych wydaje się zapewniać pewien stopień działania przeciwnowotworowego, a zapalenie podobne do tego, które obserwuje się w układzie nerwowym, wpływa również na guz.53 Z drugiej strony, uszkodzenie układu nerwowego przez układ odpornościowy może znacznie przekraczać uszkodzenia spowodowane przez sam nowotwór.54

Niskie miana przeciwciał są związane z lepszym rokowaniem nowotworu.9 Zwierzęta doświadczalne immunizowane przeciwko antygenowi paraneoplastycznemu są częściowo chronione przed guzami, które wyrażają ten antygen.9

Długoterminowe wyniki leczenia różnią się – niektórzy pacjenci całkowicie wracają do zdrowia, podczas gdy inni mogą mieć utrzymujące się objawy wymagające stałej opieki i rehabilitacji.18

Implikacje dla leczenia nowotworu

Zespół paraneoplastyczny może utrudniać pacjentowi otrzymanie zalecanego leczenia podstawowego nowotworu.39 Objawy neurologiczne często wyprzedzają diagnozę guza i mogą być niezależne w swojej ciężkości od stadium pierwotnego guza.28

Leczenie paraneoplastycznego zespołu neurologicznego jest najlepiej ukierunkowane na guz, ponieważ stabilizacja i, rzadziej, poprawa objawów neurologicznych po leczeniu guza były zgłaszane dla prawie wszystkich zespołów.55 Najlepszym podejściem do leczenia paraneoplastycznych zespołów neurologicznych jest szybkie odkrycie i leczenie guza oraz zapewnienie opieki wspierającej dla deficytów neurologicznych poprzez leczenie objawowe i fizykoterapię.41

Szybkie kontrolowanie guza poprawia wynik neurologiczny.12 Skuteczne leczenie koncentruje się na zarządzaniu podstawowym nowotworem i kontrolowaniu objawów związanych z układem odpornościowym za pomocą immunoterapii, sterydów lub plazmaferezy.18

W przypadku niektórych zespołów, w zależności od tego, czy pacjent znajduje się we wczesnych stadiach choroby neurologicznej, leczenie immunosupresyjne może mieć pewien wpływ na paraneoplastyczny zespół neurologiczny.55

Kolejne rozdziały

Zapraszamy do dalszego czytania naszego leksykonu.

Wybierz kolejny rozdział z menu poniżej, aby otworzyć nową podstronę kompedium wiedzy i uzyskać szczegółowe informację o leku, substancji lub chorobie.

  1. 09.04.2026
  2. www.leksykon.com.pl

Materiały źródłowe

  • #1 Paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic
    https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/paraneoplastic-syndromes/symptoms-causes/syc-20355687
    Paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system are a group of rare conditions that develop in some people who have cancer. […] Paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system occur when cancer-fighting agents of the immune system also attack parts of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves or muscle. […] Researchers believe that paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system are caused by cancer-fighting abilities of the immune system. In particular, antibodies and certain white blood cells, known as T cells, are thought to be involved. Instead of attacking only the cancer cells, these immune system agents also attack the healthy cells of the nervous system. […] Paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system are not caused by cancer cells directly or by the cancer spreading, known as metastasis. They’re also not caused by other complications, such as infections or treatment side effects.
  • #2 Overview of paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system – UpToDate
    https://www.uptodate.com/contents/overview-of-paraneoplastic-syndromes-of-the-nervous-system
    Paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes are a heterogeneous group of neurologic disorders caused by mechanisms other than metastases, metabolic and nutritional deficits, infections, coagulopathy, or side effects of cancer treatment. These syndromes may affect any part of the nervous system, from cerebral cortex to neuromuscular junction and muscle (table 1), either damaging one area or multiple areas. […] This topic provides an overview of the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of paraneoplastic neurologic disorders. Individual syndromes are discussed separately.
  • #3 Chapter 79: Neurologic Paraneoplastic Syndromes | Harrison’s Manual of Medicine
    https://harrisons.unboundmedicine.com/harrisons/view/Harrisons-Manual-of-Medicine/623219/all/Chapter_79:_Neurologic_Paraneoplastic_Syndromes
    Paraneoplastic neurologic disorders (PNDs) are cancer-related syndromes that can affect any part of the nervous system; caused by mechanisms other than metastasis or by complications of cancer such as coagulopathy, stroke, metabolic and nutritional conditions, infections, and side effects of cancer therapy. […] In 60% of pts the neurologic symptoms precede cancer diagnosis. […] PNDs occur in 0.51% of all cancer pts, but they occur in 23% of pts with neuroblastoma or small cell lung cancer (SCLC), and in 30-50% of pts with thymoma or sclerotic myeloma.
  • #4 Mayo Clinic Health Library – Paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system | Swiss Medical Network
    https://www.swissmedical.net/en/healtcare-library/con-20251949
    Paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system occur when cancer-fighting agents of the immune system also attack parts of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves or muscle. […] Researchers believe that paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system are caused by cancer-fighting abilities of the immune system. In particular, antibodies and certain white blood cells, known as T cells, are thought to be involved. Instead of attacking only the cancer cells, these immune system agents also attack the healthy cells of the nervous system. […] Paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system are not caused by cancer cells directly or by the cancer spreading, known as metastasis. They’re also not caused by other complications, such as infections or treatment side effects. Instead, the syndromes occur alongside the cancer as a result of the activation of your immune system.
  • #5 Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes | Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases | Full Text
    https://ojrd.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1750-1172-2-22
    Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNS) can be defined as remote effects of cancer that are not caused by the tumor and its metastasis, or by infection, ischemia or metabolic disruptions. […] PNS are caused by autoimmune processes triggered by the cancer and directed against antigens common to both the cancer and the nervous system, designated as onconeural antigens. […] The discovery of onconeural antibodies has led to the widely accepted nowadays hypothesis that PNS are immune-mediated disorders. […] PNS pathogenesis is currently related to an aberrant expression in the tumor of an antigen that is normally expressed only in the nervous system. […] However, the role of onconeural antibodies in neurological dysfunction is not clear. […] The role of VGCC-Ab has been demonstrated by the fact that the electrophysiologic abnormalities characteristic for LEMS can be reproduced when immunoglobulin G (IgG) from LEMS patients is given to experimental animals. […] Thus, these paraneoplastic antibodies seem to be only a marker of the autoimmunity and do not cause the disease. […] Recently, it has been suggested that cellular immune mechanisms play a critical role in the pathogenesis of PNS.
  • #6 Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndromes of the Central Nervous System: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment
    https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/11/5/1406
    Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNS) include any symptomatic and non-metastatic neurological manifestations associated with a neoplasm. PNS associated with antibodies against intracellular antigens, known as “high-risk” antibodies, show frequent association with underlying cancer. PNS associated with antibodies against neural surface antigens, known as “intermediate- or low-risk” antibodies, are less frequently associated with cancer. PNS of the central nervous system (CNS) exhibit a range of overlapping “high-risk” clinical syndromes, including but not limited to latent and overt rapidly progressive cerebellar syndrome, opsoclonus-myoclonus-ataxia syndrome, paraneoplastic (and limbic) encephalitis/encephalomyelitis, and stiff-person spectrum disorders. PNS are thought to arise from an immune response directed against common antigens/epitopes shared by tumor cells and normal healthy cells within the CNS. At the cellular level, PNS-associated cancers may harbor gene variants coding for onconeural proteins, particularly highly immunogenic antigens that are also expressed by CNS cells and which activate the immune system. Antibodies directed against intracellular (e.g., cytoplasmic, nuclear, or synaptic) neuronal antigens are traditionally named “onconeural” antibodies and are associated with cytotoxic T cells (which are thought to exert a pathogenic role). The traditional classification of PNS and related antibodies has been recently revised by a panel of experts which developed a new set of diagnostic criteria with the aim of improving the clinical management of these conditions. Accordingly, the previously-named “onconeural antibodies” (e.g., intracellular antibodies) are now called “high-risk antibodies” (e.g., associated with cancer in >70% of cases), and the NSA-Ab are now considered “intermediate-risk antibodies” (e.g., associated with cancer in 30–70% of cases) or “low-risk antibodies” (e.g., associated with cancer in <30% of cases). The panel also identified recommendations for PNS triggered by immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), a treatment class currently used to treat cancers. This classification helps clinician in having an immediate evaluation of risk of underlying oncological conditions, treatment response, and prognosis for patients with PNS.
  • #7 Paraneoplastic Syndromes: Symptoms, Types & Treatment
    https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17938-paraneoplastic-syndromes
    Some cancerous tumors secrete substances, like hormones or proteins, that cause certain organs in your body to work atypically. As a result, you may experience symptoms that wouldn’t occur without the tumor. […] Often, paraneoplastic syndromes occur because your body’s immune system mistakenly harms healthy tissue. Your immune system makes a substance called antibodies. Antibodies protect you from disease by identifying and destroying abnormal cells, like cancer cells. Sometimes, the signals get crossed, and antibodies attack healthy cells and tissue instead, causing symptoms associated with a paraneoplastic syndrome. […] Paraneoplastic syndromes affecting your central nervous system (brain, spinal cord) and your peripheral nervous system (nerves outside of your brain and spinal cord) may cause: Dizziness, Double vision, Speech difficulty, Memory loss, Seizures, Muscle weakness, Reduced reflexes, sensation or coordination, Loss of feeling in your arms and legs.
  • #8 Paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system | PPT
    https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/paraneoplastic-syndromes-of-the-nervous-system/235904940
    Paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system are disorders that accompany benign or malignant tumors but are not directly caused by tumor invasion or mass effects. […] Immunological factors are believed to be responsible for paraneoplastic syndromes. The immunologic response is directed against shared antigens that are ectopically expressed by the tumor, but otherwise exclusively expressed by the nervous system, or rarely by the nervous system and testes. […] Antibodies that occur in paraneoplastic disorders have been divided into two categories depending on the location of the antigen: antibodies directed against intracellular neuronal proteins and antibodies directed against neuronal cell surface or synaptic proteins. […] One or more paraneoplastic neurologic disorder is present in up to 9% of patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
  • #9 Paraneoplastic Syndromes of the Nervous System
    https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/CCLM.2000.018/html?lang=en
    Paraneoplastic syndromes affecting the nervous system are unique among immune-mediated disorders in that the trigger of the immune response is known: tumor expression of proteins normally restricted to neurons (or other immunoprivileged sites, such as testis) but ectopically expressed in some cancers results in an immunological response characterized by high titers of antibodies targeting the onconeuronal antigen. […] A T-cell response is also elicited in some paraneoplastic syndromes and may be the cause of neuronal destruction. […] In some instances genes that code for the antigens recognized by the autoantibodies have been identified, cloned and sequenced. […] Some of the proteins so identified are RNA binding proteins but their specific function has not been identified. […] In some individuals with cancer but no paraneoplastic syndrome, low titers of antibody can be identified in the serum. […] Low titers of antibody are associated with a better prognosis of the cancer. […] Experimental animals immunized against a paraneoplastic antigen are partially protected against tumors that express that antigen.
  • #10 Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes: a practical approach to diagnosis and management | Practical Neurology
    https://pn.bmj.com/content/22/1/19
    Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNS) are the immune-mediated effects of a remote cancer and are characterised by an autoantibody response against antigens expressed by the tumour. […] A key feature of PNS is that the cancer triggers the immune response, and so it should express the autoantigen to which the immune response (including an autoantibody) is directed: this ensures a direct biological link between the cancer and PNS. […] Among other benefits, these observed relationships avoid the spurious attribution of common cancers to neurological presentations with an alternative explanation, and hence encourage accurate diagnosis and prognostication. […] The likely origin of immunisation is the tumour itself, given immunohistochemical evidence of relevant antigen expression in cancers including SCLC, testicular seminoma and ovarian carcinoma.
  • #11 Paraneoplastic syndromes affecting spinal cord, peripheral nerve, and muscle – UpToDate
    https://www.uptodate.com/contents/paraneoplastic-syndromes-affecting-spinal-cord-peripheral-nerve-and-muscle
    Paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes are a heterogeneous group of neurologic disorders associated with systemic cancer and caused by mechanisms other than metastases, metabolic and nutritional deficits, infections, coagulopathy, or side effects of cancer treatment. […] Paraneoplastic syndromes affecting the spinal cord, dorsal root ganglia, peripheral nerve, neuromuscular junction, and muscle will be reviewed here. […] The usual culprit is small cell lung cancer (SCLC). […] In a case series of 31 patients with an isolated progressive paraneoplastic myelopathy, the most common coexisting cancers were lung and breast; kidney cancer, thyroid cancer, gynecologic cancers, and melanomas were also present in a few patients. […] The study suggests that in patients with new-onset progressive myelopathy of unknown cause, the presence of symmetric, longitudinally extensive tract or gray matter-specific changes on spinal MRI should raise suspicion for a paraneoplastic etiology.
  • #12 Paraneoplastic syndromes CNS manifestations | PPT
    https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/paraneoplastic-syndromes-cns-manifestations-232575140/232575140
    Paraneoplastic syndrome (PNS) is the term used to refer to the disorders that accompany the benign or the malignant tumors and are not caused by mass effect or invasion / metastasis. These disorders are triggered by an immune system response to neuronal proteins expressed by the tumor(onconeural proteins). These PNS also occur due to substances secreted by the neoplasm itself. […] PNS may be the first presentation of the underlying neoplasm (often tumor is unknown). Neurological involvement in PNS often produces rapid and severe deficits in short period of time. Prompt tumor control improves neurological outcome. […] Most PNS are mediated by immune responses triggered by neuronal proteins (onconeural antigens) expressed by tumors. Both humoral (antibodies) and cell mediated immunity (CD4 CD8)are activated. Subsequently microglial activation leads to gliosis and neuronal loss. These Immune responses have complex mechanism hence these PNS are resistant to therapy.
  • #13 Paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system – Hancock Health
    https://www.hancockhealth.org/fr/mayo-health-library/paraneoplastic-syndromes-of-the-nervous-system/
    Paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system are a group of rare conditions that develop in some people who have cancer. […] Paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system occur when cancer-fighting agents of the immune system also attack parts of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves or muscle. […] Paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system are not caused by cancer cells directly or by the cancer spreading, known as metastasis. They’re also not caused by other complications, such as infections or treatment side effects. Instead, the syndromes occur alongside the cancer as a result of the activation of your immune system. […] Researchers believe that paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system are caused by cancer-fighting abilities of the immune system. In particular, antibodies and certain white blood cells, known as T cells, are thought to be involved. Instead of attacking only the cancer cells, these immune system agents also attack the healthy cells of the nervous system. […] Any cancer may be associated with a paraneoplastic syndrome of the nervous system. However, it occurs more often in people with cancers of the lung, ovary, breast, testis or lymphatic system.
  • #14 Paraneoplastic Syndromes – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507890/
    Paraneoplastic syndromes are secondary to an occult malignancy, but the exact mechanism remains unclear. […] These syndromes commonly manifest in patients with lung cancer, breast cancer, hematological malignancies, medullary thyroid cancer, gynecological malignancies, and prostate cancer.
  • #15
    https://homeopathyaajtak.com/diseases/all/paraneoplastic-syndromes-of-the-nervous-system-451
    Paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system are a group of uncommon disorders that develop in some people who have cancer. […] Paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system occur when cancer-fighting agents of the immune system also attack parts of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves or muscle. […] Paraneoplastic syndromes are not caused by cancer cells directly disrupting nerve function, by the cancer spreading (metastasis), or by other complications such as infections or treatment side effects. Instead, they occur alongside the cancer as a result of the activation of your immune system. […] Researchers believe paraneoplastic syndromes are caused by cancer-fighting abilities of the immune system, particularly antibodies and certain white blood cells, known as T cells. Instead of attacking only the cancer cells, these immune system agents also attack the normal cells of the nervous system and cause neurological disorders. […] Any cancer may be associated with a paraneoplastic syndrome of the nervous system. However, the disorders occur more often in people with cancers of the lung, ovary, breast, testis or lymphatic system.
  • #16 Paraneoplastic syndromes | Radiology Reference Article | Radiopaedia.org
    https://radiopaedia.org/articles/paraneoplastic-syndromes
    Paraneoplastic syndromes occur secondary to the indirect effects of a malignancy and occur remotely to the primary malignancy. Symptoms are mediated by cytokines, hormones or immune cross-reactivity. These syndromes can cause a diverse range of symptoms and can affect multiple systems. […] Paraneoplastic syndromes arise most commonly with small cell lung cancer as well as gynecological and hematological malignancies. […] Paraneoplastic syndromes can affect multiple systems and have a diverse presentation.
  • #17 Paraneoplastic Syndromes
    https://www.brainfacts.org/diseases-and-disorders/neurological-disorders-az/diseases-a-to-z-from-ninds/paraneoplastic-syndromes
    Paraneoplastic syndromes are a group of rare disorders that are triggered by an abnormal immune system response to a cancerous tumor known as a „neoplasm.” […] Paraneoplastic syndromes are thought to happen when cancer-fighting antibodies or white blood cells (known as T cells) mistakenly attack normal cells in the nervous system. […] These disorders typically affect middle-aged to older people and are most common in individuals with lung, ovarian, lymphatic, or breast cancer. […] Research on paraneoplastic syndromes is aimed at enhancing scientific understanding and evaluating new therapeutic interventions. Researchers seek to learn what causes the autoimmune response in these disorders.
  • #18 Paraneoplastic Syndromes: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
    https://www.rupahealth.com/post/paraneoplastic-syndromes-causes-symptoms-and-treatment
    Commonly associated cancers include small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and Hodgkin lymphoma. […] Diagnosing paraneoplastic syndromes can be challenging because their symptoms overlap with many other neurological, autoimmune, and infectious diseases. […] Effective treatment focuses on managing the underlying cancer and controlling immune-related symptoms using immunotherapy, steroids, or plasmapheresis. […] Long-term outcomes vary; some patients recover fully, while others may have persistent symptoms requiring ongoing care and rehabilitation. […] Global disparities exist in diagnosis and treatment due to differences in healthcare systems, access to specialists, and availability of advanced diagnostic tools.
  • #19 Paraneoplastic Syndromes Affecting the Nervous System | Neupsy Key
    https://neupsykey.com/paraneoplastic-syndromes-affecting-the-nervous-system/
    Exceptions include Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS), which affects about 3 percent of patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). […] The hypothesis is that patients develop neurologic symptoms because the tumor expresses onconeural antigens that cause a cellular and/or humoral response; this then cross-reacts with specific antigens in varied regions of the nervous system. […] Between 40 and 60 percent of patients with LEMS harbor a malignancy, and, as in the other PNS, neurologic symptoms often precede tumor diagnosis. […] The most common malignancy associated with LEMS is SCLC. […] PCD may occur in isolation but may be associated with other PNS, including LE and LEMS. […] PCD is most commonly associated with SCLC, gynecologic cancers, and Hodgkins lymphoma. […] Several paraneoplastic antibodies have been identified in patients with PCD.
  • #20 Paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system | PPT
    https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/paraneoplastic-syndromes-of-the-nervous-system/235904940
    Paraneoplastic peripheral neuropathy affects 5-15% of patients with plasma cell dyscrasias associated with malignant monoclonal gammopathies. […] Diagnostic criteria for paraneoplastic syndromes include definite and possible categories, with specific criteria for each. […] Treatment approaches for paraneoplastic syndromes focus on the removal of the antigen source by treating the underlying tumor or suppression of the immune response. […] Testing for paraneoplastic antibodies can facilitate recognition of simultaneous occurrence of two or more paraneoplastic syndromes in one patient.
  • #21 Paraneoplastic syndrome: Connection to small cell lung cancer
    https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/small-cell-lung-cancer-paraneoplastic
    There is a strong association between limbic encephalitis (LE) and SCLC, with SCLC being present in 40% of LE cases. […] Cerebella degeneration occurs when SCLC triggers the production of antibodies that attack brain cells called Purkinje cells. […] The exact cause of rheumatologic syndromes is still not known. […] The NORD states there is currently no consensus on the most effective treatment for paraneoplastic syndrome. […] According to the NORD, older adults are more likely than others to develop paraneoplastic syndrome. […] Research has shown that the condition can occur in up to 10% of all lung cancer cases, including those living with SCLC. […] The best way to prevent paraneoplastic syndrome is to take steps to limit the likelihood of developing SCLC or other lung cancers. […] Paraneoplastic syndrome is a rare group of disorders that causes neurological damage to the brain, nerves, spinal cord, or muscles. […] The condition occurs due to the presence of a malignant tumor, such as small cell lung cancer.
  • #22 Paraneoplastic Syndromes: Symptoms, Types & Treatment
    https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17938-paraneoplastic-syndromes
    Paraneoplastic syndromes are rare conditions that can occur alongside cancerous tumors. Sometimes, tumors release substances that cause your body’s organs and body systems to behave abnormally. Or your body’s attempt to destroy a tumor can cause unintended damage to healthy tissue. The damage can cause the symptoms of a paraneoplastic syndrome. […] A paraneoplastic syndrome is a set of signs and symptoms that can occur when you have cancer. The symptoms develop when a malignant tumor causes changes in your body that aren’t directly caused by the cancer itself. The tumor may secrete a hormone or protein that affects a particular body system. […] Paraneoplastic syndromes can affect multiple body systems and organs, including your nervous system, endocrine system (hormones), kidneys, bones, joints, skin and blood, etc.
  • #23 What Is Paraneoplastic Syndrome?
    https://www.icliniq.com/articles/cancer/paraneoplastic-syndrome
    Paraneoplastic syndromes are rare disorders that can occur simultaneously with cancerous tumors. […] Paraneoplastic syndromes can affect multiple body systems and organs, including the nervous system, endocrine system (hormones), kidneys, bones, joints, skin, and blood. […] Approximately eight to 20 percent of cancer patients develop paraneoplastic syndromes. […] Anyone with a cancerous tumor can develop paraneoplastic syndrome. […] Some cancerous tumors secrete substances, such as hormones and proteins, that cause problems with the function of certain organs in the body. […] Paraneoplastic syndromes often occur because the body’s immune system mistakenly damages healthy tissue. […] The immune system produces substances called antibodies. […] Signals cross, and antibodies instead attack healthy cells and tissues, sometimes causing symptoms associated with paraneoplastic syndromes.
  • #24 Paraneoplastic Syndromes: Practice Essentials, Pathophysiology, Etiology
    https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/280744-overview
    Paraneoplastic syndromes are rare disorders that are triggered by an altered immune system response to a neoplasm. They are defined as clinical syndromes involving nonmetastatic systemic effects that accompany malignant disease. […] The causes of the paraneoplastic syndromes associated with underlying cancers are not well known. Only a few cases clearly demonstrate an etiologic and a pathogenetic factor. […] Fever is thought to result from the release of endogenous pyrogens (ie, lymphokines or tissue pyrogenes). […] Cachexia is thought to be caused by bioactive molecules produced by the tumor, such as alpha-lymphotoxin (tumor necrosis factor [TNF] alpha), peptides, and nucleotides, which are able to affect metabolism. […] The causes of hypertrophic osteoarthropathy remain unknown, although several hypotheses have been developed (eg, estrogen or growth hormone [GH] production by the tumor, vagal hyperactivity).
  • #25 Paraneoplastic syndromes – Knowledge @ AMBOSS
    https://www.amboss.com/us/knowledge/paraneoplastic-syndromes/
    Paraneoplastic syndromes are a set of clinical features that are caused by either an altered immune response to a systemic malignancy or because of substances (e.g., hormones, cellular proteins) produced by tumors. […] They are caused neither by the local mass effect nor by metastasis of the associated cancer. […] Some paraneoplasias are associated with many different malignancies, such as tumor-induced hypercalcemia, which is caused by parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) produced from tumor cells. […] A general overview of the most common paraneoplastic syndromes and their associations is presented here. […] Common paraneoplastic manifestations are cachexia, hyperthermia, and increased risk of thrombosis. […] Paraneoplastic syndromes present with a wide range of findings and are most commonly associated with lung, ovarian, lymphatic, and breast cancers.
  • #26 Paraneoplastic Syndromes: Practice Essentials, Pathophysiology, Etiology
    https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/280744-overview
    The autoimmune basis of polymyositis and dermatomyositis is confirmed by the presence of a lymphoplasma cellular infiltrate of the muscular interstices and by the presence of muscle necrosis, which is revealed by increased serum levels of creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). […] The pathogenesis of paraneoplastic endocrine syndromes results from aberrant production by tumors of protein hormones, hormone precursors, or hormonelike substances. […] The pathogenesis of neuromuscular paraneoplastic disorders is unknown, but they probably are multifactorial, correlated with a virus becoming virulent, autoantibody formation, or production of substances that alter nervous functions.
  • #27 Paraneoplastic syndromes – Knowledge @ AMBOSS
    https://www.amboss.com/us/knowledge/paraneoplastic-syndromes/
    Small cell lung cancer is especially notorious for its numerous and distinct paraneoplastic syndromes. […] Hypercalcemia of malignancy is caused by PTHrP secretion by the tumor. […] Cushing syndrome is caused by neoplastic tissue producing ectopic ACTH. […] Syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion is caused by neoplastic tissue producing ectopic ADH.
  • #28 Paraneoplastic syndromes in lung cancer and their management
    https://atm.amegroups.org/article/view/26458/html
    Paraneoplastic syndromes refer to the remote effects associated with malignancy which are unrelated to direct tumor invasion or metastases (1). These may occur before the cancer is diagnosed and can be independent in their severity to the stage of the primary tumor. Paraneoplastic syndromes are most commonly associated with lung cancer, reported in approximately 10% of cases (1). […] Endocrine syndromes, particularly syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion (SIADH) and humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM) are the most common paraneoplastic syndromes seen in lung cancer and are related to the histologic type of cancer (1). […] HHM is typically found in advanced disease and is associated with a poor prognosis (7). […] SIADH represents a state of euvolemic, hypoosmolar hyponatremia, which, in the case of lung cancer is secondary to ectopic ADH production; 10-45% of small cell lung cancer (compared to 1% of non-small lung cancers) can produce ectopic ADH (10,11) resulting in excessive urinary sodium excretion.
  • #29 Paraneoplastic syndromes in lung cancer and their management
    https://atm.amegroups.org/article/view/26458/html
    The symptoms of SIADH depend on the degree and acuity of the hyponatremia. Non-specific symptoms such as headache and fatigue might be the initial presentation of paraneoplastic SIADH. […] The manifestations of ECS result from the unregulated production of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) from malignant cells (4). Elevated ACTH levels may be detectable in up to 50% of patients with lung cancer (13,14). […] Ectopic ACTH secretion is almost always associated with SCLC (14) or less commonly bronchial carcinoids. […] Ectopic growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) secretion from malignant cells can manifest as acromegaly (24); in the case of lung cancer, bronchial carcinoids (25) and epidermoid carcinomas (26) have been implicated; SCLC have been reported less frequently (27,28). […] Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNSs) are autoimmune in nature; unlike most paraneoplastic syndromes, they are independent of local tumor or metastatic effects (35).
  • #30 Paraneoplastic Syndromes of the Nervous System: Understanding the Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
    https://www.doctorshubnepal.com/diseases-conditions/paraneoplastic-syndromes-of-the-nervous-system-1
    Paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system are a group of rare conditions that develop in some people who have cancer. […] The exact cause of paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system is not fully understood. However, it is thought that the immune system’s attack on the tumor cells can also trigger an attack on normal cells in the nervous system. […] Several factors can increase the risk of developing paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system: Having a diagnosis of cancer can increase the risk of developing paraneoplastic syndromes. […] Certain genetic mutations can increase the risk of developing paraneoplastic syndromes.
  • #31 Paraneoplastic Syndromes: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
    https://www.rupahealth.com/post/paraneoplastic-syndromes-causes-symptoms-and-treatment
    Paraneoplastic syndromes are rare but serious conditions that can develop in people with cancer. […] Paraneoplastic syndromes are a group of rare disorders that occur when the immune system reacts abnormally to a cancerous tumor. […] These syndromes are not directly caused by the cancer cells themselves but rather by substances secreted by the tumor (e.g., autoantibodies, cytokines, hormones, peptides) that can impact multiple organ systems. […] While the exact cause of paraneoplastic syndromes varies, they are often associated with specific types of cancer. […] Some people may be genetically predisposed to developing paraneoplastic syndromes, while environmental factors such as smoking or exposure to toxins may also play a role. […] Paraneoplastic syndromes may involve several organ systems:
  • #32 Paraneoplastic Syndromes: Symptoms, Types & Treatment
    https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17938-paraneoplastic-syndromes
    There are several paraneoplastic syndromes, including those that affect your nervous system, endocrine system, joints, blood, skin, kidneys, etc. […] Examples include: Cerebellar degeneration, Dysautonomia, Encephalitis, Encephalomyelitis, Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS), Myasthenia gravis (MG), Myelopathy, Neuromyotonia, Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome, Neuropathy (peripheral neuropathy), Stiff-person syndrome.
  • #33 Paraneoplastic Syndromes and MPNs | myMPNteam
    https://www.mympnteam.com/resources/paraneoplastic-syndromes-and-mpns
    Paraneoplastic disorders of the nervous system (brain, spinal cord, and nerves) include: Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, Stiff-person syndrome, Encephalitis, Myasthenia gravis, Cerebellar degeneration, Limbic or brain stem encephalitis, Neuromyotonia, Opsoclonus, Sensory neuropathy. […] Paraneoplastic syndromes can be a clue to physicians to check the bone marrow for signs of MPNs or to look for another cancer in the body. […] Because these syndromes are related to inflammation and the autoimmune system, treatment options can include corticosteroids to reduce inflammation, intravenous immunoglobulins to boost healthy antibodies, immunosuppressants to help manage the immune system’s response, plasmapheresis to reduce the amount of antibodies in the blood. […] Ultimately, the presence of paraneoplastic syndromes can make the prognosis of the underlying cancer worse.
  • #34 Paraneoplastic Syndromes and Lymphoma | MyLymphomaTeam
    https://www.mylymphomateam.com/resources/paraneoplastic-syndromes-and-lymphoma
    Other paraneoplastic syndromes have also been observed in people with lymphoma. […] Autoimmune cytopenias are a common paraneoplastic syndrome in lymphomas. […] Many other paraneoplastic syndromes have also been observed in the context of lymphoma. […] This syndrome affects the nervous system and involves rapid, multidirectional eye movements (opsoclonus), quick, involuntary muscle jerks (myoclonus), uncoordinated movement (ataxia), irritability, and sleep disturbance. […] Prompt and effective diagnosis and treatment of paraneoplastic syndromes is important because these syndromes can affect outcomes related to lymphoma. […] Because the presence of paraneoplastic syndromes can make the prognosis of underlying cancer worse, it is important to recognize paraneoplastic syndromes when they occur.
  • #35 Paraneoplastic syndromes in lung cancer and their management
    https://atm.amegroups.org/article/view/26458/html
    Onconeural antibodies appear to be central to the pathogenesis, though their absence does not preclude a diagnosis of PNS (36). […] In cases of possible or definite PNS all other possible causes of neurological causes should be excluded like brain or leptomeningeal metastasis, nerve root or spinal cord invasion or compression, electrolyte disturbances, hyperglycemia, or adverse effects to irradiation or chemotherapy. […] The hallmark of LEMS is proximal muscle weakness, predominantly affecting the lower extremities (starting from the pelvic girdle) (39). […] Paraneoplastic SCD is rare and most commonly associated with SCLC. […] Paraneoplastic SSN is a constellation of neurologic symptoms beginning with the loss of vibratory and joint sense and progressing, usually within 12 weeks, to impaired temperature sensation and pain.
  • #36 Paraneoplastic Syndromes – Cancer – Merck Manual Consumer Version
    https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/cancer/overview-of-cancer/paraneoplastic-syndromes
    Paraneoplastic (associated with cancer) syndromes occur when a cancer causes unusual symptoms due to substances that circulate in the bloodstream. […] About 20% of people with cancer develop a paraneoplastic syndrome. […] Diagnosis of the paraneoplastic syndrome often includes testing for the substance circulating in the bloodstream that causes the paraneoplastic syndrome. […] Eventually, treating the underlying cancer is the best way to control a paraneoplastic syndrome. […] Polyneuropathy is a dysfunction of peripheral nerves (nerves outside the brain and spinal cord), resulting in weakness, loss of sensation, and reduced reflexes. […] Subacute sensory neuropathy is a rare form of polyneuropathy that sometimes develops before the cancer is diagnosed. […] A variety of unusual symptoms may result from antibodies directed against the tumor that also interact with brain tissue to cause a change in mental function, disorientation, vision changes, and muscle weakness. […] Eaton-Lambert syndrome occurs in some people with small cell carcinoma of the lung. […] Subacute necrotizing myelopathy is a rare syndrome in which rapid loss of neurons in the spinal cord leads to paralysis.
  • #37 Paraneoplastic Syndromes | Encyclopedia.com
    https://www.encyclopedia.com/medicine/diseases-and-conditions/pathology/paraneoplastic-syndromes
    Paraneoplastic syndromes (PS) are rare disorders triggered by the immune system’s response to cancer cells, or by remote effects of tumor-derived factors. […] These syndromes are believed to occur when cancer-fighting anti-bodies or white blood cells, known as T-cells, mistakenly attack normal body cells. […] Paraneoplastic syndromes are defined as clinical syndromes involving non-cancerous effects in the body that accompany malignant disease, and can affect any part of the nervous system from the cerebral cortex to peripheral nerves and muscles. […] In general (although not always), PS develops in an acute or subacute fashion, over days or weeks. […] Most or all paraneoplastic syndromes are activated by the body’s immune system. […] Paraneoplastic syndromes occur when the primary or original tumor secretes substances such as hormones, proteins, growth factors, cytokines, and antibodies.
  • #38 Paraneoplastic Syndrome Lung Cancer: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment
    https://www.healthline.com/health/lung-cancer/paraneoplastic-syndrome-lung-cancer
    Paraneoplastic syndromes are rare groups of symptoms that affect some people with cancer. These symptoms arent directly caused by the spread of cancer but by: […] It’s thought that the two main causes are the production of hormones or other signaling molecules by cancer cells and a misdirected autoimmune response. […] Damage caused to your nervous system by your immune system can far exceed the damage caused by cancer. […] In a 2019 study, researchers found that lung cancer was the most common type of cancer that lead to paraneoplastic syndromes. […] The two main categories of lung cancer are: […] In a 2017 study, researchers found that paraneoplastic syndromes were nearly 5 times more common in people with NSCLC and 8 times higher in SCLC compared with the general population. […] In about 60 percent of people, paraneoplastic syndrome symptoms start before cancer is diagnosed.
  • #39 Paraneoplastic Syndromes and Ovarian Cancer | MyOvarianCancerTeam
    https://www.myovariancancerteam.com/resources/paraneoplastic-syndromes-and-ovarian-cancer
    Middle-aged people who have ovarian cancer as well as those with lung, breast, or lymphatic cancer are thought to be most at risk for paraneoplastic syndromes. […] Sometimes, people may notice the symptoms of paraneoplastic syndrome before they notice any symptoms from underlying cancer. […] Prompt diagnosis and treatment of paraneoplastic syndromes are important because these syndromes can affect the outcomes related to cancer. […] If someone has paraneoplastic syndromes, they can be treated in many different ways. […] Generally, first-line treatment for paraneoplastic syndromes focuses on treating the underlying cancer. […] Because the conditions can vary greatly, the treatment of paraneoplastic symptoms also varies, depending on what part of the body is being attacked. […] The paraneoplastic syndrome may make it difficult for you to receive the recommended treatment for ovarian cancer. […] Paraneoplastic syndromes can also make the prognosis of the underlying cancer worse, so it is important to recognize paraneoplastic syndromes when they occur.
  • #40 Paraneoplastic Neurologic Syndromes | Oncohema Key
    https://oncohemakey.com/paraneoplastic-neurologic-syndromes/
    For example, the likelihood that LEMS or subacute cerebellar degeneration in a middle-aged or elderly patient is paraneoplastic is probably greater than 50%. […] In contrast, subacute sensory neuropathy or dermatomyositis probably is paraneoplastic in origin in less than 20% of patients. […] In most paraneoplastic syndromes, symptoms develop acutely or subacutely and may resemble a viral process. […] Symptoms evolve over weeks or months and then stabilize, differentiating them from the more chronic and progressive degenerative diseases of middle age and adulthood. […] The diagnosis of a paraneoplastic neurologic syndrome is relatively straightforward for patients who experience symptoms of a well-defined syndrome that typically is associated with cancer. […] The specificity of some paraneoplastic antineuronal antibodies for paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes or some types of cancer makes them useful diagnostic tools.
  • #41 Paraneoplastic Neurologic Syndromes | Oncohema Key
    https://oncohemakey.com/paraneoplastic-neurologic-syndromes/
    In patients with a history of cancer or who have recently gone into tumor remission, the development of a paraneoplastic neurologic syndrome frequently heralds tumor recurrence. […] The best approach to treating paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes is to discover and treat the tumor promptly and provide supportive care for the neurologic deficits with symptomatic treatment and physical therapy.
  • #42 (PDF) Paraneoplastic Syndromes Affecting the Nervous System
    https://www.academia.edu/16888074/Paraneoplastic_Syndromes_Affecting_the_Nervous_System
    Paraneoplastic syndromes can affect virtually any portion of the nervous system. Most paraneoplastic syndromes are believed to be caused by an autoimmune reaction to an „onconeural” antigen shared by the cancer and the nervous system. […] The diagnosis of a paraneoplastic syndrome is based on its increased incidence in patients with cancer, the occasional response of the neurological syndrome to treatment of the underlying cancer, or the presence of specific autoantibodies. […] Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNS) are the immune-mediated effects of a remote cancer and are characterised by an autoantibody response against antigens expressed by the tumour. […] PNS are usually caused by autoimmune processes triggered by the cancer and directed against antigens common to both the cancer and the nervous system, designated as onconeural antigens.
  • #43 Diagnostic Approach to a Patient With Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndrome | Mahta | World Journal of Oncology
    https://wjon.org/index.php/wjon/article/view/571/407
    Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNS) are defined as any neurological dysfunction in a cancer patient in the absence of direct mass effect of the primary tumor or metastatic involvement of the central nervous system and it is caused by mechanisms other than metabolic or nutritional deficits, infections or coagulopathy or side effects of cancer treatment. […] These paraneoplastic neurological syndromes are heterogeneous and caused by an immune response to an underlying malignancy in less than 1% of cancer patients. […] This immune response is mediated by onconeural antibodies produced by tumor cells with some cross reactivity with components of the nervous system. […] Small cell lung cancer has been notorious for causing PNS. The most common syndromes associated with small cell lung cancer include subacute cerebellar degeneration, brain stem and limbic encephalitides, opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome, myelopathy, acquired neuromyotonia and Eaton-Lambert syndrome.
  • #44 Diagnostic Approach to a Patient With Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndrome | Mahta | World Journal of Oncology
    https://wjon.org/index.php/wjon/article/view/571/407
    The first step in diagnosis of PNS is to rule out other etiologies including infections, connective tissue disorders, metabolic causes or even drug side effects. […] If there is an evidence of cancer and the neurological syndrome is typical, the diagnosis is highly suggestive of PNS and further testing for onconeuronal antibodies can be helpful but is not necessary. […] Chemotherapy plus an immunosuppressive therapy and/or plasmapheresis should be initiated as soon as the diagnosis is established, however; the neurologic symptoms may or may not improve after treatment.
  • #45 Paraneoplastic Neurologic Syndromes | Oncohema Key
    https://oncohemakey.com/paraneoplastic-neurologic-syndromes/
    In the right clinical context, the detection of a paraneoplastic antibody in the serum or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) helps establish the diagnosis and focus the search of the neoplasm. […] If the detected antibody usually does not associate with the patients neurologic syndrome, other etiologies for the neurologic dysfunction should be considered. […] Similarly, if the detected cancer is not the histologic type typically found in association with the patients antibody, the presence of a second neoplasm should be suspected. […] If paraneoplastic antibodies are present but a cancer is not discovered, the patient should be assumed to harbor an occult neoplasm unless proven otherwise. […] Whole-body positron emission tomographic (PET) scans may detect tumors that escape detection by other standard imaging methods.
  • #46 Paraneoplastic Neurologic Syndromes | Oncohema Key
    https://oncohemakey.com/paraneoplastic-neurologic-syndromes/
    The paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes include an extensive group of disorders that can affect any part of the central or peripheral nervous system. […] Evidence indicates that many of these syndromes have an immunopathogenesis. […] Patients with paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes may have serum and cerebrospinal fluid antibodies that are highly specific for the presence of a cancer. […] The detection of these antibodies serves as a marker of paraneoplasia. […] Other antibodies associate with specific neurologic syndromes that occur with or without cancer. […] In these cases, the antibodies serve as markers for the neurologic syndrome but do not distinguish between a paraneoplastic or nonparaneoplastic etiology. […] Antibodies directly mediate some disorders such as the Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, myasthenia gravis, and neuromyotonia and likely mediate other disorders such as anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor encephalitis.
  • #47 Paraneoplastic Neurologic Syndrome: Types, Causes & Treatment
    https://www.ganeshdiagnostic.com/blog/paraneoplastic-neurologic-syndrome-types-causes-and-treatment
    Rare conditions known as paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNS) are linked to cancer but are not brought on by the disease itself, metastasis, or side effects of treatment. Often, they are autoimmune. […] Most PNS are autoimmune. The body starts an immune response when attempting to remove tumour cells, and this reaction may target healthy neurological structures. […] The specificity for paraneoplastic syndromes is quite high when antibodies against onconeural antigens, such as Hu, CV2/CRMP5, Yo, and amphiphysin, are detected alongside a compatible neurological condition. […] These illnesses’ precise incidence and prevalence are unclear. PNS is a clinically uncommon condition. […] The first neurological condition to be recognised and documented with a known malignant aetiology was limbic encephalitis (LE).
  • #48 Paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system | PPT
    https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/paraneoplastic-syndromes-of-the-nervous-system/235904940
    Paraneoplastic peripheral neuropathy affects 5-15% of patients with plasma cell dyscrasias associated with malignant monoclonal gammopathies. […] Diagnostic criteria for paraneoplastic syndromes include definite and possible categories, with specific criteria for each. […] Treatment approaches for paraneoplastic syndromes focus on the removal of the antigen source by treating the underlying tumor or suppression of the immune response. […] Testing for paraneoplastic antibodies can facilitate recognition of simultaneous occurrence of two or more paraneoplastic syndromes in one patient.
  • #49 A Rare Case of Paraneoplastic Syndrome | 2023, Volume 29 – Issue 1 | Turkish Journal of Neurology
    https://tjn.org.tr/full-text/62/eng
    Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes affect different parts of the nervous system and may present as limbic encephalitis, subacute cerebellar degeneration, and neuronopathies. […] Paraneoplastic syndromes may occur in patients diagnosed with cancer or as the first finding in patients not yet diagnosed with cancer. […] To diagnose paraneoplastic and autoimmune encephalitis, infections, metastasis, vascular causes, and the toxic effects of cancer treatment drugs should be excluded. […] However, while Zic4 antibodies in the Zic family have been reported as being mostly associated with small cell lung cancer, they might also be associated with other malignancies, such as B-cell lymphoma and neuroblastoma. […] Malignancy should be investigated in patients with rapidly developing cognitive problems, and the necessary tests and treatments should be planned with paraneoplastic syndromes in mind. All other etiological causes should be excluded before diagnosing paraneoplastic and autoimmune encephalitis.
  • #50 Paraneoplastic Syndrome: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment
    https://www.prepladder.com/neet-pg-study-material/medicine/paraneoplastic-syndrome-causes-symptoms-diagnosis-and-treatment
    Paraneoplastic syndrome symptoms are typically the first signs of malignancy. […] A paraneoplastic syndrome can appear in any patient with a malignant tumour. The following cancers are most frequently linked to paraneoplastic syndromes: Ovarian cancer, Stomach cancer, Leukaemia, Lymphoma, Small-cell lung cancer, Breast cancer, Carcinoma of the pancreas, Renal cancer, Testicular cancer.
  • #51 Paraneoplastic syndromes CNS manifestations | PPT
    https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/paraneoplastic-syndromes-cns-manifestations-232575140/232575140
    Paraneoplastic syndromes are rare disorders triggered by an altered immune response to cancer. They involve non-metastatic systemic effects that accompany malignant disease. Common paraneoplastic syndromes affect the endocrine, neurologic, dermatologic, and rheumatologic systems. Timely recognition of paraneoplastic syndromes is important as it may lead to early cancer detection and treatment. […] Paraneoplastic syndromes are clinical syndromes involving nonmetastatic systemic effects that accompany malignant disease. They can affect systems in the body in endocrine, neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, cutaneous, hematologic, gastrointestinal, or renal ways. The mechanisms are not fully understood but may involve cross-reacting antibodies, production of physiologically active substances, interference with metabolic pathways, or unknown causes.
  • #52 Paraneoplastic Syndromes | Encyclopedia.com
    https://www.encyclopedia.com/medicine/diseases-and-conditions/pathology/paraneoplastic-syndromes
    The substances are referred to as mediators. […] Mediators interfere with communication between cells in the body. […] Paraneoplastic syndromes can occur with any type of malignancy. […] However, they occur most frequently with lung cancer, specifically small-cell lung carcinoma. […] The presence of the syndrome may be the only indication that a patient has a malignancy or that a malignancy has recurred. […] Paraneoplastic syndromes may be useful as clinical indicators to evaluate the response of the primary cancer to the treatment. […] Resolution of the paraneoplastic syndrome can be correlated with tumor response to treatment. […] SIADH results from numerous different types of cancer. […] The malignancies known to cause SIADH include lung cancer, small cell type, gastrointestinal cancers, genitourinary cancer, lymphoma, head and neck cancers, thymoma, brain and central nervous system tumors, breast cancer, and melanoma. […] Certain cancers produce and secrete ADH themselves. […] Of all the types of cancer that produce ADH themselves, small cell lung cancer is by far the most common.
  • #53 Paraneoplastic Autonomic Neuropathy: Background, Pathophysiology, Etiology
    https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1156808-overview
    Paraneoplastic autonomic dysfunction is a secondary effect of cancer. Small-cell lung cancer is particularly likely to cause paraneoplastic syndromes, but many types of malignancy can cause these types of syndromes, including teratoma, neuroblastoma, retinoblastoma, oligodendroglioma, melanoma, leiomyosarcoma, hematological tumors, and cancers of the thymus, gastrointestinal tract, rectum, prostate, breast, fallopian tubes, uterus, bladder, kidney, pancreas, testicles, malignancies and ovary. […] Exactly how cancers result in paraneoplastic neurological symptoms is incompletely understood. The development of these syndromes are not due to direct tumor invasion. Expression of onconeural antigens by the cancer cells resulting in autoimmunity appears to be the mechanism. […] The autoimmunity in paraneoplastic neurological syndromes does appear to confer some degree of antitumor effect. Inflammation similar to what is seen in the nervous system also affects the tumor.
  • #54 Paraneoplastic Syndromes in Small-Cell Lung Cancer
    https://www.webmd.com/lung-cancer/paraneoplastic-syndromes-small-cell-lung-cancer
    Paraneoplastic syndromes are a group of symptoms that happen in some people who have small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Some paraneoplastic syndromes affect your nervous system, including your brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Others affect your endocrine system (your hormone system). […] Neurologic and endocrine paraneoplastic syndromes have different causes. In paraneoplastic neurologic syndrome, white cells and antibodies that normally fight cancer attack healthy nerve cells by mistake. This is called an autoimmune response. That means your symptoms aren’t caused by SCLC, but by your body’s immune system. This immune response may damage your nervous system more than it harms the tumor. […] In paraneoplastic endocrine syndrome, tumors start to make their own hormones. Your body already makes these hormones, usually in the exact amount you need. This sometimes makes your cancer harder to diagnose and treat. Symptoms depend on the type of hormone, but most can have serious effects on your body.
  • #55 Paraneoplastic Neurologic Syndromes | Oncohema Key
    https://oncohemakey.com/paraneoplastic-neurologic-syndromes/
    For paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes in which T-cell mechanisms are predominant, the associated antibodies target intracellular neuronal proteins. […] The response to therapy is, in general, disappointing. […] The physicians main concern should be to rule out other diagnostic entities and to uncover the presence of the associated neoplasm. […] For these syndromes the treatment approach should be aimed at the tumor, because stabilization and, less often, improvement of neurologic symptoms after tumor treatment have been reported for almost all syndromes. […] In a few cases, depending on the syndrome and whether the patient is in the early stages of the neurologic disease, treatment with immunosuppression may have some effect on the paraneoplastic neurologic syndrome. […] Most paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes are thought to have an immunopathogenesis.