Decreased serum levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I in patients with lung cancer: temporal relationship with growth hormone (GH) levels.
OBJECTIVE
Several studies have evidenced that IGF-1 may play a role in the growth regulation of many cancer cell lines, and recently GH and IGF-1 have been recognized as stimulators of lymphopoiesis and immune function. We investigated whether there are differences among health- old people and old people suffering from lung cancer at different stages of disease in the 24-hour secretory profiles of GH und IGF-1.


METHODS
The study was carried out on seven healthy volunteers (mean age +/- s.e. 68.8 + 1.92), seven patients with I and II stage lung cancer (mean age +/- s.e. 67.2 +/- 0.80) and seven patients with III and IV stage lung cancer (mean age +/- s.e. 69.5 +/- 2.26). GH and IGF-1 serum levels were measured on blood samples collected every four hours for 24 hours; the area under the curve (AUC) and the presence of circadian rhythmicity were evaluated.


RESULTS
A normal circadian rhythmicity was recognizable only for GH secretion in healthy subjects. A progressive increase of GH serum levels and a steady decrease of IGF-1 serum levels were observed in cancer patients in relation to advancing stage of neoplastic disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Lung cancer is associated with an altered regulation of GH-IGF-1 system, that might play a role in the clinical course of neoplastic disease.
Mazzoccoli
G
G
Department of Internal Medicine, Regional General Hospital Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Italy.
Giuliani
A
A
Bianco
G
G
De Cata
A
A
Balzanelli
M
M
Carella
A M
AM
La Viola
M
M
Tarquini
R
R
D000368:Aged; D002909:Chronobiology Phenomena; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging
D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I