Serum cholecystokinin and neurotensin during follow-up of pancreas, prostate and medullary thyroid tumors.
BACKGROUND
Growth of pancreatic carcinoma cells is stimulated by cholecystokinin (CCK) and neurotensin (NT). Prostatic carcinoma cells can secrete neurotensin. The CCK gene has been described in thyroid medullary carcinomas (MCT).


METHODS
Serum CCK and NT were measured by RIAs during monitoring of 19 pancreas tumours, 10 prostate adenocarcinomas and 10 thyroid medullary cancers (MCT).


RESULTS
No correlations were found between CCK and NT in the three tumour types, nor with CA 19.9, PSA, CEA or calcitonin. In pancreas adenocarcinomas (n = 12), initial median CCK was > 8pg/ml (non significant differences between stages T, N or M). Median NT was > 80 pg/ml in all but M0 and stage I-II cases, and significantly higher in M1 and stages IV (P = 0.002). Non significant differences were found for CCK and NT according to clinical stages. In prostate cancers, median CCK was significantly more elevated after relapse (P = 0.040). Median NT was significantly more elevated in disease-free patients (P = 0.04). In MCT, CCK and NT were not related to clinical stages.


CONCLUSIONS
In pancreas and prostate cancers serum CCK may follow tumour load and disease progression. NT was lower in progressive disease. The contribution of these peptides in human tumour growth, since they may have therapeutic implication, warrants further investigation.
Pichon
M F
MF
Laboratoire d'Immunoanalyse, service de Medicine Nucleaire, Centre R. Huguenin, Saint-Cloud, France.
Coquin
G
G
Fauveau
C
C
Rey
A
A
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D002766:Cholecystokinin / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009496:Neurotensin / Q000097:blood*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D009496:Neurotensin; D002116:Calcitonin; D002766:Cholecystokinin; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen