Biomaterial Database

Elevated gastrin levels in patients with colon cancer or adenomatous polyps. 1989

J P Smith, and J G Wood, and T E Solomon

Department of Medicine, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey 17033.

Gastrin has been shown to stimulate the growth of carcinogenic-induced colon cancer in animals, and some human colon cancers grown in vitro or as xenografts in nude mice. We determined fasting plasma gastrin levels in control subjects and patients with adenomatous polyps or adenocarcinoma of the colon to determine whether abnormal levels occurred in either patient group. Blood samples were obtained from 73 patients undergoing colonoscopy, primarily for evaluation of Hemoccult-positive stools. Fasting plasma gastrin was significantly greater in patients with adenomatous polyps (24.2 +/- 5.7 pM, N = 25) or colon cancer (84.5 +/- 28.5 pM, N = 20) than in controls (9.9 +/- 0.9 pM, N = 28). Elevations were due to gastrin values greater than control mean + 2 SD in nine patients with polyps (19.5-150.2 pM) and eight with cancer (20.7-403.2 pM). None of the patients had identifiable causes (drugs, prior surgery) for elevated gastrin levels. Our results indicate that elevated plasma gastrin occurs in subgroups of patients with adenomatous polyps or adenocarcinoma of the colon. The cause and potential role of elevated gastrin for polyp and tumor growth in these patients is not known.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D003110	Colonic Neoplasms	Tumors or cancer of the COLON.	Cancer of Colon,Colon Adenocarcinoma,Colon Cancer,Cancer of the Colon,Colon Neoplasms,Colonic Cancer,Neoplasms, Colonic,Adenocarcinoma, Colon,Adenocarcinomas, Colon,Cancer, Colon,Cancer, Colonic,Cancers, Colon,Cancers, Colonic,Colon Adenocarcinomas,Colon Cancers,Colon Neoplasm,Colonic Cancers,Colonic Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Colon,Neoplasm, Colonic,Neoplasms, Colon
D003111	Colonic Polyps	Discrete tissue masses that protrude into the lumen of the COLON. These POLYPS are connected to the wall of the colon either by a stalk, pedunculus, or by a broad base.	Colonic Polyp,Polyp, Colonic,Polyps, Colonic
D005215	Fasting	Abstaining from FOOD.	Hunger Strike,Hunger Strikes,Strike, Hunger,Strikes, Hunger
D005260	Female		Females
D005755	Gastrins	A family of gastrointestinal peptide hormones that excite the secretion of GASTRIC JUICE. They may also occur in the central nervous system where they are presumed to be neurotransmitters.	Gastrin
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000230	Adenocarcinoma	A malignant epithelial tumor with a glandular organization.	Adenocarcinoma, Basal Cell,Adenocarcinoma, Granular Cell,Adenocarcinoma, Oxyphilic,Adenocarcinoma, Tubular,Adenoma, Malignant,Carcinoma, Cribriform,Carcinoma, Granular Cell,Carcinoma, Tubular,Adenocarcinomas,Adenocarcinomas, Basal Cell,Adenocarcinomas, Granular Cell,Adenocarcinomas, Oxyphilic,Adenocarcinomas, Tubular,Adenomas, Malignant,Basal Cell Adenocarcinoma,Basal Cell Adenocarcinomas,Carcinomas, Cribriform,Carcinomas, Granular Cell,Carcinomas, Tubular,Cribriform Carcinoma,Cribriform Carcinomas,Granular Cell Adenocarcinoma,Granular Cell Adenocarcinomas,Granular Cell Carcinoma,Granular Cell Carcinomas,Malignant Adenoma,Malignant Adenomas,Oxyphilic Adenocarcinoma,Oxyphilic Adenocarcinomas,Tubular Adenocarcinoma,Tubular Adenocarcinomas,Tubular Carcinoma,Tubular Carcinomas
D000368	Aged	A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available.	Elderly