[Levels of sexual hormones in plasma of male patients with lung cancer and their clinical significance].
BACKGROUND
To determine the levels of several sexual hormones in plasma of male patients with lung cancer and to evaluate their clinical significance.


METHODS
The levels of estradiol ( E₂ ) , progesterone ( P) , testosterone (T) , follicle stimulating hormone( FSH) , and lutenising hormone( LH) in plasma of 70 patients with lung cancer, 30 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease( COPD) , and 30 healthy men were measured by enzyme immunoassay magnetic solid phase( IEMA) . The difference of sexual hormone levels was compared among male lung cancer patients by different tumor size, clinical stage, and pathological type


RESULTS
The E₂ level and the ratio of E₂/ T ( 24. 7 ng/ L±19. 1 ng/ L and 10. 9±9. 8) were significantly increased in male patients with lung cancer than those in normal adults( 12. 6 ng/ L ± 4. 8 ng / L and 3. 4±1. 6) ( P < 0. 001) . Compared with control group, the level of plasma T in male patients ( 3. 3μg/ L±1. 5μg/L) was significantly decreased ( P< 0. 05) , but there was no difference between lung cancer group and COPD group ( P > 0. 05) . The level of E₂ and the ratio of E₂/ T had close relationship with the tumor size and clinical stage ( P < 0. 01) . Compared with squamous cell carcinoma group, the level of plasma T in adenocarcinoma patients ( 2. 3μg/ L ± 1. 2μg/ L) was significantly decreased ( P< 0. 05) , but other levels of sexual hormones didn# t relate to the pathological type of tumor ( P > 0. 05) .


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that the determination of the levels of T, E₂ and the ratio of E₂ /T might be helpful for the diagnosis of male lung cancer and to predict the stage of male patients.
Institute of Respiratory Disease , Xinqiao Hospital , Third Military Medical University , Chongqing 400037, P. R. China.
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