Sorafenib is indicated for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but although rare, tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) can be fatal in HCC patients with a large tumor burden. The authors describe the case of a 55-year-old hepatitis B carrier who visited our clinic with progressive dyspnea for 3 weeks. Chest and abdominal computed tomography revealed a huge HCC in the left lobe of the liver with invasion of the inferior vena cava, right atrium, and pulmonary arteries. After 8 days of sorafenib administration, TLS was diagnosed based on the characteristic findings of hyperuricemia, hyperkalemia, and acute kidney injury with massive tumor necrosis by follow-up imaging. Despite discontinuation of sorafenib and supportive care, the patient's clinical course rapidly deteriorated. The authors describe a rare but fatal complication that occurred soon after sorafenib initiation for HCC. Careful follow-up is required after commencing sorafenib therapy for the early diagnosis and management of TLS.
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A case of hepatocellular carcinoma caused severe tumor lysis by ramucirumab Yuhi Sakamoto, Keizo Kato, Hiroshi Abe, Takeshi Yonezawa, Sadahiro Ito, Makiko Ika, Kiichiro Yoza, Mamika Ohara, Shogo Sakasai, Shohei Shimizu, Shinji Endo Kanzo.2021; 62(3): 129. CrossRef
Sorafenib-induced tumor lysis syndrome in a patient with metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma ☆ Sardar Zakariya Imam, Mohammad Faizan Zahid, Muhammad Asad Maqbool Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Therapy.2020; 13(3): 168. CrossRef
The tumor lysis syndrome has been described as biochemical disturbances associated with rapid destruction of tumor cells and subsequent synchronized massive release of cellular breakdown products sufficient to overwhelm excretory mechanisms and the body's normal reutilization capacity. The cardinal signs of the tumor lysis syndrome are hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia, hypocalcemia and hyperuricemia. Gefitinib (Iressa) is an oral, selective epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor that has activity in female, non-smoker and non-small cell lung cancer with an EGFR mutation. Gefitinib is a well tolerated drug with few side effects. It has been associated with skin rash, diarrhea, nausea, a decrease in liver function and interstitial lung disease. However, there is no prior report of the tumor lysis syndrome associated with gefitinib. We report a case of a 54 year-old woman who developed tumor lysis syndrome that might have been induced by gefitinib after the treatment of adenocarcinoma of lung with an EGFR mutation.