Successful Treatment with Selpercatinib for Ectopic Cushing's Syndrome Due to Medullary Thyroid Cancer

Curr Oncol. 2022 May 12;29(5):3494-3498. doi: 10.3390/curroncol29050282.

Abstract

Selpercatinib, a RET kinase inhibitor, is an effective treatment for patients with medullary thyroid cancer with RET mutations. In this paper, we present the case of a 62-year-old man with ectopic Cushing’s syndrome due to medullary thyroid cancer who received treatment with selpercatinib. Six months later, all the cushingoid features had resolved, and s-calcitonin had decreased from 580 pmol/L to 3.5 pmol/L (normal < 3). After further 6 months, s-calcitonin had normalized (1.5 pmol/L), and radiological evaluation showed a profound tumour volume reduction. We are aware of two other cases where treatment with selpercatinib has also been successful. Thus, selpercatinib may be a promising treatment alternative in patients with ectopic Cushing’s syndrome due to medullary thyroid cancer, especially when other treatment options are ineffective or not tolerated.

Keywords: ectopic Cushing’s syndrome; hypercortisolism; medullary thyroid cancer; paraneoplastic syndrome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Calcitonin / therapeutic use
  • Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine* / drug therapy
  • Cushing Syndrome* / drug therapy
  • Cushing Syndrome* / etiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pyrazoles
  • Pyridines
  • Thyroid Neoplasms* / complications
  • Thyroid Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Thyroid Neoplasms* / pathology

Substances

  • Pyrazoles
  • Pyridines
  • Calcitonin
  • selpercatinib

Supplementary concepts

  • Thyroid cancer, medullary

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.