Serum gastrin alteration in colorectal cancer patients before and after resection

ABSTRACT

Fasting and postpr and ial serum gastrin levels [SGL] were measured in 15 patients with resectable colorectal cancer [CRC] [group 1], in 10 patients with irresectable CRC [group 2], and in 10 otherwise healthy subjects, controls [group 3]. In group 1, postoperative SGL was measured 10 days after tumor resection. The highest SGL was recorded in group 2. The differences between measurements in groups 1, 2 and 3 were all statistically significant both in fasting and postpr and ial values. Moreover, postoperative SGL in group 1 showed a statistically significant reduction both in fasting and postpr and ial values. There was no correlation between clinical data and SGL except for tumor extensiveness [Duke's staging]. The fall in postoperative SGL may be at least hypothetically, taken as an indicator of gastrin tumor production. Serial postoperative SGL estimation may be used as a tumor marker should tumor recurrence is anticipated