NASAL HUMAN CALCITONIN FOR TUMOR-INDUCED HYPERCALCEMIA

We treated four hypercalcemic cancer patients by nasal hCT, 3 X 2 mg daily, which has been reported to be active in Paget's disease at lower doses. Only one patient became normocalcemic and mean (+/- SEM) calcium levels fell from 11.6 +/- 0.2 mg/dl before therapy to 10.7 +/- 0.6 mg/dl 2-3 days after starting hCT. The tolerance was excellent but, because of insufficient efficacy, we do not recommend this form of therapy for cancer hypercalcemia.