title: Alteration of hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis function in non-small-cell lung cancer patients.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis function in patients suffering from lung cancer. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), interleukin (IL)-2, and melatonin serum levels were measured in blood samples collected every 4 hours for 24 hours from 11 healthy participants (H; ages 35-53 years) and 9 patients suffering from non-small-cell lung cancer (C; ages 43-63 years). Relationships between hormone levels overall and over time of day were evaluated within and among groups. A prominent circadian rhythm with peaks near midnight was present for TSH and melatonin serum levels in both H and C, indicating similar synchronization of the main body clock to the 24-hour environmental light-dark cycle. As regards 24-hour means in H and C, TSH was lower in C, whereas TRH, FT4, and IL-2 were higher in C, with no difference in melatonin levels. Simple linear regression, FT4 versus TRH, showed a positive correlation in H and a negative correlation in C, whereas FT4 versus TSH showed a negative correlation in both groups. For FT4 versus IL-2, a negative correlation was found in C but not for H, whereas TSH versus TRH showed no correlation for either group. Both groups were found to be similarly synchronized to the 24-hour sleep-wake schedule, but HPT axis function was altered in patients suffering from lung cancer. When compared with healthy controls, cancer patients showed modifications of hormone serum levels overall and a negative correlation between individual TRH and FT4 levels.
authors.affiliation: Scientific Institute and Regional General Hospital "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza", San Giovanni Rotondo (FG), Italy. g.mazzoccoli@tin.it
authors.forename: Gianluigi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mazzoccoli
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pazienza
authors.forename: Ada
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piepoli
authors.forename: Lucia Anna
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Muscarella
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giuliani
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Sothern
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013972:Thyrotropin; D008550:Melatonin