Aggressive Pituitary Macroadenoma Treated With Capecitabine and Temozolomide Chemotherapy Combination in a Patient With Nelson's Syndrome: A Case Report

Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2021 Nov 11:12:731631. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2021.731631. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Nelson's syndrome is considered a severe side effect that can occur after a total bilateral adrenalectomy in patients with Cushing's disease. It usually presents with clinical manifestations of an enlarging pituitary tumor including visual and cranial nerve alterations, and if not treated, can cause death through local brain compression or invasion. The first therapeutic option is surgery but in extreme cases of inaccessible or resistant aggressive pituitary tumors; the off-label use of chemotherapy with capecitabine and temozolomide can be considered. However, the use of this treatment is controversial due to adverse events, lack of complete response, and inability to predict results. We present the case of a 48-year-old man diagnosed with Nelson's syndrome with prolonged partial response and significant clinical benefit to treatment with capecitabine and temozolomide.

Keywords: Nelson’s syndrome; aggressive pituitary tumors; capecitabine; case report; temozolomide.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenoma / complications
  • Adenoma / drug therapy*
  • Adenoma / pathology
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Capecitabine / administration & dosage
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nelson Syndrome / complications
  • Nelson Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / complications
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / pathology
  • Spain
  • Temozolomide / administration & dosage
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tumor Burden

Substances

  • Capecitabine
  • Temozolomide