ABSTRACT
To screen out the value of gastrin hormone in the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer, 44 lung cancer patients [32 males and 12 females] and 12 healthy volunteers [six males and six females] were included in this study. After the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer, venous blood sample and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid [BAL] sample [through the fiberoptic bronchoscope] were taken from every subject to measure and compare between gastrin level in the serum and BAL-fluid of the two groups and of the different stages of lung cancer. The results showed that there was a higher gastrin level in the serum and BAL fluid in the lung cancer patients than those in the healthy subjects, the levels were higher in small cell lung cancer [SCLC] than non small cell lung cancer [NSCLC] patients, finally the gastrin levels in both the serum and BAL fluid became higher as the stage of the cancer progressed