NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY LETTERS
including Psychoneuroimmunology, Neuropsychopharmacology,
Reproductive Medicine, Chronobiology and Human Ethology, ISSN 0172–780X

NEL Vol.24 No.1/2, Feb-Apr 2003

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Neuroendocrine alterations in lung cancer patients

2003; 24:77–82
pii: NEL241203A12
PMID: 12743538

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Neuroendocrine alterations in lung cancer patients

Gianluigi Mazzoccoli 1, Stefano Carughi 1, Angelo De Cata 1, Marco La Viola 1, Antonio Giuliani 1, Roberto Tarquini 2
& Federico Perfetto 2

1. Department of Internal Medicine, Regional General Hospital “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza”, Cappuccini Av., 71013 S.Giovanni Rotondo (FG), Italy. 2. Center of Chronobiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Florence, Pieraccini Av., 50100 Florence (FI), Italy.

Submitted: March 24, 2002 Accepted: May 6, 2002

Key words:
neuro-endocrine system, lung cancer, melatonin, cortisol, GH, IGF-I, TRH, TSH, FT4

 

Abstract

BACKGROUND: A number of qualitative and quantitative changes in hormonal secretion pattern have been found in subjects suffering from neoplastic disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of alterations in neuro-endocrine system function and in the pattern of endocrine secretion in patients with lung cancer.

METHODS: Cortisol, melatonin, growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), thyroid-stimulating-hormone (TSH), and free thyroxine (FT4) serum levels were measured on blood samples collected every four hours for 24 hours from ten healthy old subjects aged 65-79 years (mean age ± s.e. 67.28 ± 3.11) and from ten subjects suffering from untreated non small cell lung cancer aged 65-78 years (mean age ± s.e. 68.57 ± 1.81). Areas under the curve and mean diurnal and nocturnal levels were compared and the presence of circadian rhythmicity was evaluated.

RESULTS: When hormone levels were expressed as area under the curve GH levels were higher (p=0.004) and IGF-I levels were lower (p=0.006) in patients with lung cancer than in normal subjects. The evaluation of melatonin/cortisol ratio in all subjects showed a significant difference between the control group and the group of cancer patients (p<0.05). When we compared mean diurnal levels (mean of 06.00-10.00-14.00h) GH levels were higher (p<0.0001) and IGF I levels were lower (p<0.0001) in cancer patients; when we compared mean nocturnal levels (mean of 18.00-22.00-02.00h) cortisol (p=0.03), TRH (p=0.02), and GH (p=0.001) levels were higher in cancer patients, while melatonin (p=0.04), TSH (p=0.04) and IGF I (p<0.0001) levels were higher in control subjects. A clear circadian rhythm was validated for time related changes of cortisol, melatonin, TRH, TSH and GH in control subjects and for time related changes of melatonin in cancer patients.

CONCLUSION: These data suggest that lung cancer patients show alterations of hormone secretion and neuroendocrine system function.

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