Abstract
Paclitaxel is a novel anticancer drug that is being increasingly used to treat cancer of the breast and other organs. We describe a patient with metastatic breast cancer and liver dysfunction who had severe mucocutaneous toxicity after administration of a standard dose of paclitaxel. Another interesting finding in this patient was that the administration of paclitaxel led to a prompt resolution of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP)-mediated hypercalcemia, which had previously proven to be refractory to multiple conventional antihypercalcemic agents as well as anthracycline-containing chemotherapy combination. The need for definitive guidelines for paclitaxel administration in the setting of hepatic dysfunction and the potentially unique sensitivity of PTHrP--producing cells to paclitaxel are discussed.
MeSH terms
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Anthracyclines / administration & dosage
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Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / adverse effects*
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Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
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Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
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Breast Neoplasms / secondary
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Drug Eruptions / etiology*
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Erythema Multiforme / chemically induced*
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Female
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Humans
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Hyperbilirubinemia / complications*
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Hypercalcemia / drug therapy
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Liver Neoplasms / drug therapy
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Liver Neoplasms / secondary
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Middle Aged
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Mouth Diseases / chemically induced
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Neoplasm Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
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Paclitaxel / adverse effects*
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Parathyroid Hormone / antagonists & inhibitors
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Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein
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Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
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Vaginal Diseases / chemically induced
Substances
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Anthracyclines
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Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
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Neoplasm Proteins
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PTHLH protein, human
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Parathyroid Hormone
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Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein
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Proteins
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Paclitaxel