SERUM GASTRIN-LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH COLORECTAL NEOPLASIA OR ADENOMATOUS POLYPS

During the last years interest has focused on the trophic effect of gastrin in colorectal carcinomas. Some reports indicated an increased serum level of gastrin in patients with colorectal adenomas or carcinomas. In a prospective study in 261 patients submitted to colonoscopy fasting serum gastrin concentrations were determined. 91 patients served as control, 89 patients had one or more adenomas, 55 patients sufferred from a colorectal carcinoma, 17 had a benign, postoperative stenosis of the colon, and 9 had a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. All patients fullfilled the following criteria: No regular drug intake, no previous gastric or small bowel operation, no known ulcer disease, no abnormalities in serum calcium, creatinine, triglycerides, cholesterol and blood urea. Mean gastrin level was 86.63 +/- 23. 8 pg/ml in the control, 84.57 +/- 25.1 pg/ml in the adenoma group and 84.6 +/- 24.4 pg/ml in the carcinoma group. No difference of serum gastrin levels were observed regarding sex, age, tumor stage and localisation.