Disturbance of the growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor-1 axis associated with poor performance status in patients with solid tumors.
OBJECTIVE
Hormonal imbalance characterized by excessive production of growth hormone (GH) and a low circulating concentration of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 has been demonstrated in individuals with various serious conditions. However, little is known about changes in the GH-IGF-1 axis in cancer patients.


METHODS
We prospectively examined the circulating levels of several hormones in 58 patients with solid tumors who were classified according to Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (PS): PS 0-1, n = 15; PS 2, n = 15; PS 3, n = 15; and PS 4, n = 13. The relations of hormone concentrations, with a focus on the GH-IGF-1 system, to PS were evaluated by Spearman's rank correlation test and regression analysis.


RESULTS
The circulating levels of IGF-1, IGF-binding protein-3 and thyroid hormones (total T(3) and T(4)) were inversely correlated with PS score. The concentration of GH was increased irrespective of PS but not statistically significant. The ratio of IGF-I to GH was inversely correlated with PS. The levels of GH and IGF-1 in all patients were also inversely correlated.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study suggests that the GH-IGF-1 axis is disturbed in patients with cancer.
Okamoto
Isamu
I
Department of Medical Oncology, Kinki University School of Medicine, 377-2 Ohno-higashi, Osaka-Sayama, Osaka 589-8511, Japan. chi-okamoto@dotd.med.kindai.ac.jp
Munakata
Masaki
M
Miyazaki
Masaki
M
Satoh
Taroh
T
Takahata
Takenori
T
Takamatsu
Yasushi
Y
Muto
Osamu
O
Koike
Kazuhiko
K
Ishitani
Kunihiko
K
Mukaiyama
Taketo
T
Sakata
Yuh
Y
Nakagawa
Kazuhiko
K
Tamura
Kazuo
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000097:blood*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D015996:Survival Rate; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine