Introduction

Oncologic emergencies are acute, potentially life-threatening conditions caused either by the malignancy itself or its treatment, requiring immediate medical intervention to prevent death or severe permanent morbidity (Bischof, 2022). These emergencies can be classified in various ways: according to whether they are tumor- or treatment-related; by the affected organ system; or based on their nature as metabolic, structural, or treatment-induced events. They can also be grouped by their predominant symptoms or clinical consequences (Caterino, 2019). Among the most recognized oncologic emergencies are spinal cord or nerve root compression, superior vena cava syndrome, malignancy-associated hypercalcemia, tumor lysis syndrome, and febrile neutropenia (Vandyk, 2012; Caterino, 2019). The increasing incidence of oncologic emergencies is closely associated with the rising survival rates of cancer patients (Machado, 2025). As patients live longer, there is a greater chance of disease progression, the emergence of comorbid conditions, and cumulative treatment-related toxicities (Kurteva, 2023). Current estimates suggest that up to 70% of oncology patients may experience at least one oncologic emergency during the course of their illness (Bischof, 2022). Despite their growing prevalence in emergency departments, many healthcare professionals report feeling inadequately prepared to manage these complex conditions, often due to the multifaceted nature of oncologic complications and insufficient training during medical education (Wong, 2018). Timely and accurate intervention is crucial, as any delay or mismanagement in these scenarios can lead to irreversible outcomes or death (Min, 2022). Moreover, much of the existing literature in the field of oncologic emergencies is based on low- to moderate-quality evidence, complicating clinical decision-making and contributing to variability in practice (Wang, 2018). Recent publications also suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted access to timely oncologic care, potentially altering the epidemiological profile of oncologic emergencies worldwide and creating a backlog of cases with delayed presentations (Linjawi, 2023). This scoping review will focus on five major oncologic emergencies, each with distinct pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical presentations: febrile neutropenia, malignancy-associated hypercalcemia, spinal cord compression, tumor lysis syndrome, superior vena cava syndrome. Febrile neutropenia is a potentially life-threatening complication characterized by the simultaneous occurrence of fever and a significant reduction in neutrophil count, most defined as an absolute neutrophil count below 500 cells/μL or expected to fall below this threshold within 48 hours (Sheehy, 2025). Malignancy-associated hypercalcemia is a frequently occurring paraneoplastic syndrome caused by humoral-mediated and/or through local osteolytic bone metastasis resulting in excessive calcium release from resorbed bone (Kohart, 2017). Malignant spinal cord compression is a medical emergency and a complication of metastatic neoplasms in which tumor invasion of the epidural space leads to pain, neurologic deficits and paralysis if not adequately and timely treated (Cole, 2008). Tumor lysis syndrome is caused by rapid tumor cell breakdown, which releases intracellular contents such as potassium, phosphate, and nucleic acids, leading to electrolyte disturbances that may result in acute kidney failure, arrhythmias, and seizures (Howard, 2011). Superior vena cava syndrome is a clinical condition resulting from a malignancy that impedes blood flow in the superior vena cava through external compression, direct tumor invasion into the vessel wall or thrombi (Wright, 2023). While clinical guidelines are well-developed, preclinical and experimental models underpinning these emergencies are scattered across the literature, limiting researchers’ ability to select validated, reproducible systems for translational research. Experimental models play a critical role in this effort by providing mechanistic insights, enabling therapeutic testing, and helping to simulate clinical scenarios that are otherwise difficult to study in controlled environments. A preliminary search for existing scoping reviews and systematic reviews on the topic has been conducted on August 13, 2025, in the databases JBI Evidence Synthesis, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PubMed, Evidence for Policy and Practice Information (EPPI), and Epistemonikos, and no reviews were found. This review is structured according to the Joanna Briggs Institute’s Population–Concept–Context (PCC) framework. The population of interest comprises experimental systems that model oncologic emergencies, including animal models, ex vivo tissues, organoids or cell lines, and engineered or simulation models. The concept focuses on the characteristics of these models, the methods used for their induction, the aspects of pathophysiology they reproduce, and the interventions evaluated. The context encompasses any laboratory setting, involving any species or model type, with no restrictions on publication date or language. The objective of this scoping review is to identify, map, and describe preclinical and experimental models of febrile neutropenia, malignancy-associated hypercalcemia, tumor lysis syndrome, malignant spinal cord compression, and superior vena cava syndrome in the context of cancer, detailing their characteristics, induction methods, outcome measures, and translational relevance.