Abstract

PIP: A case is reported of a man who experienced hypercalcemia as a result of developing liver and renal-cell cancer. Repeated skeletal surveys and bone scans failed to reveal any bone metastases. The hypercalcemia was unresponsive to hydration and oral phosphate. However, it responded immediately to oral administration of indomethacin. The mechanism of this calcium-lowering effect is unknown. On the death of the patient, biopsies of the metastic liver and lung tissue were performed. The liver metastatis yielded 7 times the PGE (prostaglandin E)-like and 5 times the PGF-like material found in the normal adjacent liver. The lung metastatis yielded only 1/2 the PGE-like and PGF-like material obtained from normal adjacent lung. The results of this case study would indicate that some forms of hypercalcemia secondary to neoplastic disease are responsive to indomethacin and may be due to increased PG production by the tumor tissue.