Paraneoplastic syndromes (PNS) are systemic alterations with clinical signs at a distant site from the primary neoplasm or metastatic sites. The causes of PNS are variable; they include tumor-produced small molecules (such as hormones, cytokines, peptides) that are released in circulation and alter signaling activity, host immune responses to tumor-related antigens, and tumor-related depletion of normal substances in the body. Some PNS have no known etiology. PNS are commonly recognized in veterinarycancer patients, and symptoms related to PNS are often the first sign of neoplasia. Importantly, PNS may cause significant impact on our patients with increased morbidity and mortality. The development and cessation of PNS may correlate with the development and cessation of the primary neoplasm. It is critical to understand the importance of PNS when treating and monitoring dogs and cats with cancer.
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