Circadian rhythmicity of plasma somatostatin, gastrin and cortisol in colon cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to compare somatostatin, gastrin and cortisol levels over a 24 hour period in patients suffering from large bowel cancer and to compare this group with healthy subjects and patients suffering from other large bowel diseases (ulcerative colitis, large bowel polyps).


METHODS
There were 11 cancer patients (8 men and 3 women). The plasma levels of somatostatin, gastrin and cortisol were determined by radioimmunoassay. Fisher's periodogram and Halberg's cosinor analysis were used for statistical evaluation.


RESULTS
We confirmed 24-hour rhythm of somatostatin, gastrin and cortisol secretion in patients with colon cancer. The most important findings were a higher mesor (p < 0.01) of gastrin compared to all other groups and a lower 24-hour amplitude (p < 0.05) and a shorter 12-hour acrophase (p < 0.05) of cortisol compared to all other groups were found.


CONCLUSIONS
Chrono-abnormalities in gastrin and cortisol secretion may reflect the role of gastrin in the etiopathogenesis of colon cancer and a reduced responsiveness to stimulus in patients with malignant diseases. Somatostatin blood levels probably do not reflect its antitrophic effect at cellular and subcellular level.
Payer
J
J
1st Department of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
Huorka
M
M
Duris
I
I
Ondrejka
P
P
Kratochvílova
H
H
Ilkova
M
M
Holéczy
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005755:Gastrins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000097:blood*
D005755:Gastrins; D013004:Somatostatin; D006854:Hydrocortisone