Increased fasting serum levels of growth hormone and gastrin in patients with gastric and large bowel cancer.
BACKGROUND
Growth hormone (GH), Insulin-like growth factor-I (somatomedine, IGF-I) and gastrin seem to play a significant role in cell proliferation in mammalian and rat cells. The role of these factors in the etiology of gastric and large bowel cancer has not been completely elucidated. The aim of this study was to concurrently estimate the levels of GH, IGF-I and gastrin in a group of patients with gastric and colorectal cancer and to compare the results with those of a group of normal controls.


METHODS
In 33 consecutive patients with gastric (16 patients) and large bowel (17 patients) cancer, the serum levels of GH, IGF-I and gastrin were measured by radioimmunoassay. Fifty-four normal people were served as controls.


RESULTS
Significantly higher levels of serum GH (3.16 +/- 3.12 ng/ml in gastric cancer patients vs. 3.01 +/- 2.91 ng/ml in colorectal cancer patients vs. 0.69 +/- 1.60 ng/ml in normal controls, adjusted P<0.001) and gastrin (98.2 +/- 87.9 pg/ml in gastric cancer patients vs. 95.3 +/- 85.4 pg/ml in colorectal cancer patients, vs. 47.5 +/- 32.4 pg/ml in normal controls, adjusted P<0.035 and <0.05 respectively) were found in both groups of patients compared with normal controls. The levels of IGF-I in patients with gastric and colorectal cancer although higher compared to normal controls did not reach statistical significance. (98.2 +/- 87.9 pg/ml vs. 95.3 +/- 85.4 vs. 47.5 +/- 32.4 respectively) (adjusted P=0.070).


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that in patients with gastric and colorectal cancer a significant increase of serum GH and gastrin can be found. This increase is likely to play a role in gastric and colorectal carcinogenesis.
Triantafillidis
John K
JK
Department of Gastroenterology, Saint Panteleimon General State Hospital, Nicea, Greece. jkt@panafonet.gr
Merikas
Emmanuel
E
Govosdis
Vasillios
V
Konstandellou
Evangelia
E
Cheracakis
Petros
P
Barbatzas
Charalambos
C
Tzourmakliotis
Dimitrios
D
Peros
George
G
D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D005755:Gastrins / Q000097:blood*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*
D005755:Gastrins; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1; D019382:Human Growth Hormone