Elevated plasma gastrin, CEA, and CA 19-9 levels decrease after colorectal cancer resection.
OBJECTIVE
Gastrin stimulates mucosal growth of much of the gastrointestinal tract and has also been implicated in promoting growth of colonic tumors, but its role in colorectal carcinogenesis remains controversial. This study determined fasting serum gastrin levels before and after surgery for colorectal cancer (CRC) and the relationship to the clinical stage of the disease to investigate it possible prognostic role.


METHODS
Fasting radioimmunoassay gastrin, CA 19-9, and CEA levels were measured before and after surgery for CRC. Helicobacter pylori status was also assessed since it causes significant hypergastrinemia.


RESULTS
Mean fasting plasma gastrin level was significantly higher in CRC patients than in controls before surgery but not 59 days after surgery. Mean CEA and CA 19-9 levels were significantly higher in patients with CRC before surgery than after tumor resection. There was a significant positive correlation between the plasma gastrin, CEA, and CA 19-9 levels and the CRC stage (Dukes' classification).


CONCLUSIONS
The significance of gastrin as a marker for diagnosis or prognostic purposes in colorectal cancer needs to be further examined.
Bombski
G
G
Gastroenterology Ward, Regional Hospital, Piotrkow Trybunalski, Poland.
Gasiorowska
A
A
Orszulak-Michalak
D
D
Neneman
B
B
Kotynia
J
J
Strzelczyk
J
J
Janiak
A
A
Malecka-Panas
E
E
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005755:Gastrins / Q000097:blood*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
D015415:Biomarkers; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D005755:Gastrins