[Plasma neuropeptide Y (NPY) levels in patients with gastric and colorectal carcinomas].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the plasma NPY concentration in patients with gastric and colorectal carcinomas in relation to tumor progression.


METHODS
Blood samples were obtained from patients with gastric cancer (n = 18) and colorectal cancer (n = 20). Plasma NPY concentration was determined by radioimmunoassay.


RESULTS
The average plasma NPY level in the 38 patients studied (125.3 +/- 31.5 pg/ml) was significantly(P < 0.001) lower than that in 28 healthy control individuals (145.1 +/- 44.1 pg/ml). Decreased NPY levels were correlated with loss (> 3 kg) of body weight (P < 0.01) and tumor size (> 5 cm) (P < 0.05). The stage of gastric cancer, but not that of colorectal cancer, was negatively correlated with plasma NPY level. Plasma NPY level did not correlate with sex, age, blood pressure, depth of tumor invasion, degree of differentiation, lymph node metastasis, hemoglobin and albumin concentrations.


CONCLUSIONS
Plasma NPY level is decreased in patients with gastric and colorectal carcinomas, but it reflects only in part the progression of gastric cancer.
Department of General Surgery, Chinese PAL General Hospital, Beijing.
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Li
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Chen
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Li
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000097:blood*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology
D009478:Neuropeptide Y