Relationship between the changes of endocrine systems and prognosis in patients with cancer

2004 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 13671321
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Digestive surgery
• Research Institution: yokohama city university
• Principal Investigator: RINO Yasushi yokohama city university, Medical Hospial, assistant professor, 医学部附属病院, 講師 (50254206)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): IMADA Toshio yokohama city university, Medical Hospital, professor, 医学部附属病院, 教授 (50168514)
• Project Period (FY): 2001 – 2004
• Keywords: gastric cancer / growth hormone / paradoxical response / thyrotropin releasing hormone

Research Abstract

Background : Patients with gastric cancer have been noted to have an abnormal response to thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) of growth hormone (GH). The abnormal response is called GH paradoxical response (PR). We estimated the correlation between endocrine abnormalities and prognosis of the patients with gastric cancer. Methods : Subjects were 101 patients with gastric cancer, 40 Stage I, 8 Stage II, 26 Stage III, 27 Stage IV. Stage I patients consisted of 29 males and 11 females. Stage II patients consisted of 5 males and 4 females. Stage III patients consisted of 23 males and 3 females. Stage IV patients consisted of 17 males and 10 females. None of the patients had a history of endocrine diseases. Serum GH and serum TSH levels were measured by radioimmunoassay before and after a single shot of 500 micrograms of TRH. PR were evaluated all patients. Collu et al reported that PR is defined by an increase to at least twice the baseline levels and greater than 5ng/ml. Survival rates were compared between PR positive and negative groups. Results : PR was observed 10 out of 40 cases in Stage I, and 12 out of 27 cases in Stage IV. PR positive rate was not significantly higher in Stage IV than Stage I patients. Whereas there are two patterns of PR. One is a rapid response after TRH administration (rapid response type) and the other is a late response (late response type). Positive PR group had no significant poor prognosis. However, prognosis of gastric cancer patients was better in PR negative group and late response type of PR than rapid response type of PR positive group. There was significant difference that p-value was 0.0002. Conclusions: PR of GH may be a good prognostic indicator in gastric cancer patients.