Paraneoplastic Syndromes of the Nervous System

A paraneoplastic syndrome is a set of signs and symptoms that can occur when you have cancer. The symptoms develop when a malignant tumor causes changes in your body that aren’t directly caused by the cancer itself. The tumor may secrete a hormone or protein that affects a particular body system. Often with paraneoplastic syndromes, your immune system releases antibodies to destroy the tumor. During this process, the antibodies also damage healthy cells (autoimmune response).

Paraneoplastic syndromes can affect multiple body systems and organs, including your nervous system, endocrine system (hormones), kidneys, bones, joints, skin and blood, etc.

Often, the symptoms of a paraneoplastic syndrome are the first signs of cancer.

Who is affected by paraneoplastic syndromes?

You’re more likely to have a paraneoplastic syndrome if you’re middle-aged or older and you have lung, lymphatic, ovarian or breast cancer. The same factors that increase your cancer risk can increase your chances of developing a paraneoplastic syndrome.

How common are paraneoplastic syndromes?

About 8% to 20% of people with cancer develop paraneoplastic syndromes.

What cancers are associated with paraneoplastic syndromes?

Anyone with a cancerous tumor can develop a paraneoplastic syndrome. The types of cancer most commonly associated with paraneoplastic syndromes are:

• Breast cancer.
• Stomach cancer.
• Leukemia.
• Lymphoma.
• Lung cancer (especially small-cell lung cancer).
• Ovarian cancer.
• Pancreatic cancer.
• Prostate cancer.
• Kidney cancer.
• Testicular cancer.