CORPORATE SYMPOSIUM TUMOR LYSIS SYNDROME: PATHOGENESIS AND CLINICAL ASPECTS

Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is a life-threatening metabol-ic emergency that occurs as a result of spontaneous-or, more frequently- treatment related cancer cell death. Biochemical abnormalities can be ascribed to the rapid destruction of tumor cells with subsequent massive and synchronized release of cellular breakdown products, that overwhelm excretory mechanisms and the body’s capacity to reutilize these products.1 Four cardinal signs can be recognized: hyper-kalemia, hyperphosphatemia, hypocalcemia and hyper-uricemia. Hyperkalemia Potassium is an intracellular ion whose gradient across cell membrane is maintained by an ATP-dependant pump. Ear-ly events leading to cell apoptosis induce a decrease in ATP levels and subsequent leakage of potassium out of intac