Role of circulating gastrin in colorectal adenomas and carcinomas.
OBJECTIVE
A trophic role of gastrin has been convincingly demonstrated in the oxyntic mucosa of the stomach, but is still a matter of debate in the lower gastrointestinal tract.


METHODS
In order to examine the role of circulating gastrin in colorectal adenoma and carcinoma fasting serum gastrin concentrations were determined in 351 patients undergoing complete colonoscopy.


RESULTS
In comparison to controls (n = 145) more patients with either polyps (n = 125) or colorectal carcinoma (n = 81) have slightly increased serum gastrin concentrations, leading to an increased mean, but no change in median serum gastrin levels. In 3 patients preoperatively increased serum gastrin concentrations were normalized after surgical removal of the polyp and/or tumor, suggesting a local release of gastrin from the polyp/tumor. Gastrin concentrations do not correlate with the histopathological classification or malignant potential of adenomatous polyps.


CONCLUSIONS
In view of these findings a significant role of circulating endogenous gastrin in human colorectal carcinogenesis seems to be unlikely.
Lamberts
R
R
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Germany.
Wartenberg
T
T
Creutzfeldt
W
W
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D000236:Adenoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005755:Gastrins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D005755:Gastrins