Plasma growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone levels in patients with lung carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to investigate the serum levels of growth hormone releasing hormone and GH in patients with lung carcinoma. DESIGN After an overnight fast a plasma sample was collected for determination of growth hormone releasing hormone and GH.


METHODS
The investigation was performed in 28 patients with non small cell lung carcinoma, in 44 patients with small cell lung carcinoma, and 10 patients with non malignant lung disease. A group of 37 normal subjects served as control.


METHODS
Growth hormone releasing hormone and GH were determined by radioimmunoassay.


RESULTS
Patients with small cell lung carcinoma showed higher plasma growth hormone releasing hormone levels (49 +/- 9.4 ng/l) than control subjects (16.3 +/- 2.1 ng/l; P less than 0.05), patients with non small cell lung carcinoma (23.9 +/- 8.8 ng/l; P less than 0.05), and patients with non malignant lung disease (12.7 +/- 5.5; P less than 0.05). Basal GH level was lower than 5 micrograms/l in all patients except five patients with small cell lung carcinoma and one patient with non small cell lung carcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
The higher plasma growth hormone releasing hormone levels in patients with small cell lung carcinoma compared to normal controls and patients with non small cell lung carcinoma and patients with non malignant lung disease, confirm the frequent neuroendocrine activity of this particular tumour.
Schopohl
J
J
Klinikum Innenstadt, University of Munich, FR Germany.
Losa
M
M
Frey
C
C
Wolfram
G
G
Huber
R
R
Permanetter
W
W
von Pawel
J
J
Müller
O A
OA
von Werder
K
K
D000328:Adult; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000097:blood*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000097:blood; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
D013006:Growth Hormone; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone