Changes in the serum gastrin levels in patients with colorectal cancer

ABSTRACT

A total of 16 patients [5 men and 11 women with a mean age of 49.3 years] with established diagnosis of colorectal cancer [group 1] and 10 patients [5 men and 5 women with a mean age of 36.2 years] with different types of hernia [group 2] taken as controls was studied. Blood samples for the estimation of serum gastrin were taken both fasting and postprandial before and after resection of the tumor in group one. The results showed that the fasting [mean +/- SD 59.63 +/- 18.78 pgm/ml] and postprandial [mean +/- SD 94.65 +/- 33.25 pgm/ml] serum gastrin levels in group 1 before resection were significantly higher when compared with group 2, fasting [mean +/- SD 40.68 +/- 8.51 pgm/ml] and postprandial [mean +/- SD 59.02 +/- 16.42 pgm/ml]. In conclusion, the presence of colorectal cancer was associated with endogenous hypergastrinemia, which was resolved after resection of the tumor. Substances which decreased the level of circulating gastrin could be as useful in regulating tumor growth as gastrin receptor antagonists