ABSTRACT
Gastrin receptors have been demonstrated on the human colon cancer cell line, which may indicate that gastrin has trophic effect on human colon cancer cell. A total of 16 patients [5 men [31.25%] l1 women [68.75%]; mean age 49.3 years] with established diagnosis of colorectal cancer [group1] and 10 patients [5 men [50%], 5 women [50%]; mean age 36.2 year]with different types of hernia [group 2] taken as control, were studied. Blood sample for estimation of serum gastrin were taken both fasting and postprandial before and after resection of the tumor in group I, also blood samples from group 2 [control] were taken once for estimation of fasting and postprandial serum gastrin. The results shows that,the fasting [mean +/- sd 59,63 +/- 18.78 pgm/ml] and postprandial [mean +/- SD 94.65 +/- 33.25 pgm/ml] serum gastrin in group 1 before resection were significantly higher when compared with group 2 [control] fasting [means +/- SD 40.68 +/- 8.15 pgm/ml] and postprandial [means +/- SD 59.02 +/- 16.42 pgm/ml] p=0.006 and p=0.004 respectively. Also serum gastrin concentrations were significantly lower, fasting [means +/- SD 44.89 +/- 9.46 pgm/ml], postprandial [means +/- SD 69.32 +/- 25.39 pgm/ml] p=0.009 and p=0.002 respectively after apparently curative resection when compared to the preoperative level. In conclusion, the presence of colorectal cancer is associated with endogenous hypergastriaemia, which resolved after resection of the tumour. Substances which decrease the level of circulating gastrin will be as useful in regulating tumour growth as gastrin receptor antagonists