title: Cinacalcet for hypercalcemia caused by pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma producing parathyroid hormone-related Peptide.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Current treatments for hypercalcemia caused by lung cell carcinomas producing parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTH-rp) have limited efficacy, probably because of their lack of effect on PTH-rp secretion. In this case study we explored the efficacy of the calcimimetic cinacalcet as suppressor of PTH-rp production.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 57-year-old male with severe and recurrent hypercalcemia induced by a PTH-rp-producing squamous cell lung carcinoma, stage cT4N3M1b, poorly responding to standard treatments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum PTH-rp levels were not affected by saline, calcitonin or zoledronate. PTH-rp decreased during chemotherapy and cinacalcet monotherapy. The combination of chemotherapy plus cinacalcet was most effective in rapidly reducing serum calcium and PTH-rp.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case study is the first to suggest that cinacalcet may be of value in some cases of PTH-rp-dependent hypercalcemia. Corroborative evidence is needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Rijnstate Hospital, Arnhem, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Anneke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bech
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Smolders
authors.forename: Darryl
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Telting
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: de Boer