title: Disturbance of the growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor-1 axis associated with poor performance status in patients with solid tumors.
abstract: 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.
authors: 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
authors: Isamu
authors: I
authors: Okamoto
authors: Masaki
authors: M
authors: Munakata
authors: Masaki
authors: M
authors: Miyazaki
authors: Taroh
authors: T
authors: Satoh
authors: Takenori
authors: T
authors: Takahata
authors: Yasushi
authors: Y
authors: Takamatsu
authors: Osamu
authors: O
authors: Muto
authors: Kazuhiko
authors: K
authors: Koike
authors: Kunihiko
authors: K
authors: Ishitani
authors: Taketo
authors: T
authors: Mukaiyama
authors: Yuh
authors: Y
authors: Sakata
authors: Kazuhiko
authors: K
authors: Nakagawa
authors: Kazuo
authors: K
authors: Tamura
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: 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