title: Plasma prolactin in patients with colorectal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Colorectal cancer is a common malignancy of the gastrointestinal tract. It is the second cancer cause of death in females and third in males. Production of prolactin has been reported with several tumours. However, elevated prolactin plasma levels in colorectal cancer patients remained unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross sectional study serum prolactin and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) concentrations were assayed using immunoradiometric assay kits, preoperatively in 47 patients, and the results were compared with 51 age and sex matched controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prolactin and CEA concentration in patients were significantly more as compared with controls. Hyperprolactinemia was found in 36 (76.6%) patients, while 28 (59.6%) had high level of CEA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prolactin may be a better tumour marker than CEA in patients with colorectal malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of surgery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Shariati hospital, kargar shomali st, Tehran 14114, Iran. info@dr-soroush.com
authors.forename: Ahmad Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Soroush
authors.forename: Hosein Mahmood
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Zadeh
authors.forename: Mehrnush
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moemeni
authors.forename: Behnam
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shakiba
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elmi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D011388:Prolactin