Increased fasting serum levels of growth hormone and gastrin in patients with gastric and large bowel cancer

Abstract

SUMMARY
Background: Growth hormone (GH), Insulin-like growth
factor-I (somatomedine, IGF-I) and gastrin seem to play a
significant role in cell proliferation in mamalian and rat
cells. The role of these factors in the etiology of gastric and
large bowel cancer has not been completely elucitated. The
aim of this study was to concurrently estimate the levels of
GH, IGF-I and gastrin in a group of patients with gastric
and colorectal cancer and to compare the results with those
of a group of normal controls. Patients and Methods: In 33
consequtive patients with gastric (16 patients) and large
bowel (17 patients) cancer, the serum levels of GH, IGF-I
and gastrin were measured by radioimmunoassay. Fiftyfour
normal people served as controls. Results: Significantly
higher levels of serum GH (3.16�3.12 ng/ml in gastric cancer
patients vs 3.01�2.91 ng/ml in colorectal cancer patients
vs 0.69�1.60 ng/ml in normal controls, adjusted P<0.001)
and gastrin (98.2�87.9 pg/ml in gastric cancer patients vs
95.3�85.4 pg/ml in colorectal cancer patients, vs 47.5�32.4
pg/ml in normal controls, adjusted P<0.035 and <0.05 respectively)
were found in both groups of patients compared
with normal controls. The levels of IGF-I in patients with
gastric and colorectal cancer patients and normal controls
did not differ significantly (Gastric cancer 98.2 pg/ml�87.9
vs 95.3�85.4 vs 47.5�32.4 respectively) (adjusted P=0.070).
Conclusion: It is concluded that in patients with gastric
and colorectal cancer a significant increase of serum GH and gastrin can be found. This increase is likely to play a
role in gastric and colorectal carcinogenesis.
Key words: Growth hormone, Somatomedine, IGF-I, Gastrin,
Gastric cancer, Large bowel cancer