Abstract
Plasma gastrin has been reported to be elevated among patients with colorectal cancer. The objectives of the present study were to confirm this observation and, if confirmed, to shed light on the reason for the elevation. Presurgical and postsurgical fasting plasma gastrin levels were compared between 24 patients hospitalized for colorectal adenocarcinoma resection and 25 control patients hospitalized for other surgery. Elevated presurgical gastrin levels in the case group that fell after surgery woulds be consistent with preduction of gastrin by the tumor. High presurgical gastrin levels in the case group that did not change following surgery would be consistent with excess gastrin production by G cells. The mean presurgical gastrin levels were 21.9±3.7 pM (cases) and 45.1±18.0pM (controls). The mean postsurgical gastrin levels were 20.5±3.9 pM (cases) and 43.4±14.6 pM (control). These results do not provide support for the hypothese that gastrin is elevated in colorectal cancer patients or that gastrin is secreted by colorectal tumors in sufficient quantities to be measurable in the plasma.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Smith JP, Wood JG, Solomon TE: Elevated gastrin levels in patients with colon cancer or adenomatous polyps. Dig Dis Sci 34:171–174, 1989
Seitz JF, Giovannini M, Gauthier A: Elevated gastrin levels in patients with colorectal cancer. J Clin Gastroenterol 11:362, 1989 (letter)
Suzuki H, Matsumoto K, Terashima H: Serum levels of gastrin in patients with colorectal neoplasia. Dis Colon Rectum 31:716–717, 1988
Johnson LR: New aspects of the trophic action of gastrointestinal hormones. Gastroenterology 72:788–792, 1977
Lamers CBHW, Jansen JBMJ: Role gastrin and cholecystokinin in tumours of the gastrointestinal tract. Eur J Clin Oncol 24:267–273, 1988
American Joint Committee on Cancer: Manual for Staging of Cancer. Philadelphia, JB Lippincott, 1988
Bryant MG, Adrian TE: Gastrin.In Radioimmunoassay of Gut Regulatory Peptides. SR Bloom, RG Long (eds). London, WB Saunders, 1982, pp 51–59
Lambert JR, Eaves ER, Soveny C, Hansky J: Serum gastrin in colonic polyps. Gastroenterology 94:A248, 1988 (abstract)
Charnley RM, Thomas WM, Stanley J, Morris DL: Serum gastrin concentrations are higher in colorectal cancer patients. Gut 30:A712-A713, 1989 (abstract)
Johnson LR: Regulation of gastrointestinal growth.In Physiology of the Gastrointestinal Tract. LR Johnson (ed). New York, Raven Press, 1987, pp 301–333
Hakanson R, Blom H, Carlsson E, Larsson H, Ryberg B, Sundler F: Hypergastrinaemia produces trophic effects in stomach but not in pancreas and intestines. Regul Pept 13:225–233, 1986
Hakanson R, Axelson J, Ekman R, Sundler F: Hypergastrinaemia evoked by omeprazole stimulates growth of gastric mucosa but not of pancrease or intestines in hamster, guinea pig and chicken. Regul Pept 23:105–115, 1988
Oscarson JEA, Veen HF, Ross JS, Malt RA: Dimethylhydrazine-induced colonic neoplasia: Dissociation from endogenous gastrin levels. Surgery 91:525–530, 1982
Tatsuta M, Iishi H, Yamamura H, Taniguchi H: Inhibition by tetragastrin of experimental carcinogenesis in rat colon: Effect of wheat bran consumption. Int J Cancer 41:239–242, 1988
McGuigan JE, Trudeau WL: Serum gastrin concentrations in pernicious anemia. N Engl J Med 282:358–361, 1970
Elsborg L, Mosbech J: Pernicious anemia as a risk factor in gastric cancer. Acta Med Scand 206:315–318, 1979
Brinton LA, Gridley G, Hrubec Z, Hoover R, Fraumeni JF: Cancer risk following pernicious anemia. Br J Cancer 59:810–813, 1989
Talley NJ, Chute CG, Larson DE, Epstein R, Lydick EG, Melton LJ: Risk for colorectal adenocarcinoma in pernicious anemia—a population-based cohort study. Ann Intern Med 111:738–742, 1989
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work was supported by the National Cancer Institute (P01-CA42101, Cancer Prevention Research Unit for Connecticut at Yale University). Dr. Yapp was supported by a Training Grant (DK 07017) awarded by the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Dr. Dubrow received support from a National Cancer Institut Preventive Oncology Academic Award (K07-CA01463).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yapp, R., Modlin, I.M., Kumar, R.R. et al. Gastrin and colorectal cancer. Digest Dis Sci 37, 481–484 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01307566
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01307566