BACKGROUND/AIMS: Previous studies have found that colorectal cancer patients have hypergastrinemia, but most have been inadequately controlled. Preoperative fasting and meal-stimulated gastrin levels were measured in patients with colorectal tumors (n = 42) and in carefully matched controls (n = 34). Helicobacter pylori status was assessed because it causes significant hypergastrinemia. METHODS: Plasma gastrin levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. Helicobacter status was assessed using the [14C]urea breath test and serology (immunoglobulin G). RESULTS: Preoperatively, fasting plasma gastrin levels were similar in patients with tumors (median, 55 ng/L; interquartile range, 45-82.5) and controls (77.5 ng/L; 53.7-137.5; P = 0.10). Similarly, peak gastrin levels were not significantly different in tumor patients (200 ng/L; 137.5-312.5) and controls (247.5 ng/L; 147.5-375; P = 0.21). The prevalence of H. pylori infection in patients with tumors (60%) and controls (53%) was similar in both groups. Five (20%) tumor patients who were H. pylori-positive preoperatively were negative postoperatively, and their median peak plasma gastrin level decreased from 200 ng/L to 140 ng/L. After these patients were excluded, fasting and peak plasma gastrin concentrations were similar preoperatively and postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: When confounding factors are controlled for, plasma gastrin levels are not increased in colorectal cancer and do not decrease after curative resection. Previously noted decreases in gastrin levels after tumor resection may be attributable to loss of H. pylori infection in some patients, as noted here.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Previous studies have found that colorectal cancerpatients have hypergastrinemia, but most have been inadequately controlled. Preoperative fasting and meal-stimulated gastrin levels were measured in patients with colorectal tumors (n = 42) and in carefully matched controls (n = 34). Helicobacter pylori status was assessed because it causes significant hypergastrinemia. METHODS: Plasma gastrin levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. Helicobacter status was assessed using the [14C]urea breath test and serology (immunoglobulin G). RESULTS: Preoperatively, fasting plasma gastrin levels were similar in patients with tumors (median, 55 ng/L; interquartile range, 45-82.5) and controls (77.5 ng/L; 53.7-137.5; P = 0.10). Similarly, peak gastrin levels were not significantly different in tumorpatients (200 ng/L; 137.5-312.5) and controls (247.5 ng/L; 147.5-375; P = 0.21). The prevalence of H. pyloriinfection in patients with tumors (60%) and controls (53%) was similar in both groups. Five (20%) tumorpatients who were H. pylori-positive preoperatively were negative postoperatively, and their median peak plasma gastrin level decreased from 200 ng/L to 140 ng/L. After these patients were excluded, fasting and peak plasma gastrin concentrations were similar preoperatively and postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: When confounding factors are controlled for, plasma gastrin levels are not increased in colorectal cancer and do not decrease after curative resection. Previously noted decreases in gastrin levels after tumor resection may be attributable to loss of H. pylori infection in some patients, as noted here.
Authors: Grzegorz Bombski; Anita Gasiorowska; Daria Orszulak-Michalak; Beata Neneman; Justyna Kotynia; Janusz Strzelczyk; Adam Janiak; Ewa Malecka-Panas Journal: Int J Gastrointest Cancer Date: 2002
Authors: Adeyinka O Laiyemo; Farin Kamangar; Pamela M Marcus; Philip R Taylor; Jarmo Virtamo; Demetrius Albanes; Rachael Z Stolzenberg-Solomon Journal: Cancer Causes Control Date: 2009-10-17 Impact factor: 2.506
Authors: Michael R Stephens; Andrew N Hopper; Wyn G Lewis; Guy Blackshaw; Paul Edwards; Becky Osborne; Ian W Thompson Journal: Gastric Cancer Date: 2007-09-26 Impact factor: 7.370