Regression of small-cell lung carcinoma in patients with paraneoplastic neuronal antibodies.
We describe three patients with known or suspected small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), paraneoplastic neurological syndromes, and antineuronal antibodies who had unusually benign clinical courses. One patient survived 8 years free of disease and was positive for the anti-Hu antibody. A second patient survived 6 years after spontaneous tumour regression and had an atypical antineuronal antibody. A third patient with both the anti-Hu and atypical antineuronal antibody had spontaneous regression of a lung mass. All three patients had a subacute sensory neuropathy. Since paraneoplastic antineuronal antibodies also bind to tumour cells, these cases suggest that some (paraneoplastic) neurological syndromes without identifiable tumour may result from immune-mediated eradication of tumour cells.
Darnell
R B
RB
Department of Neurology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York.
DeAngelis
L M
LM
D000368:Aged; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009365:Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous / Q000276:immunology*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000276:immunology*; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes / Q000276:immunology*
D000906:Antibodies