title: Increased fasting serum levels of growth hormone and gastrin in patients with gastric and large bowel cancer.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Saint Panteleimon General State Hospital, Nicea, Greece. jkt@panafonet.gr
authors.forename: John K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Triantafillidis
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Merikas
authors.forename: Vasillios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Govosdis
authors.forename: Evangelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Konstandellou
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cheracakis
authors.forename: Charalambos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barbatzas
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tzourmakliotis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Peros
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D005755:Gastrins; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1; D019382:Human Growth Hormone