[Biochemical methods and their place in prognosis and evaluation of the effectiveness of treatment of small cell lung cancer].

The blood plasma levels of ACTH, CEA, calcitonin, parathyrin, hydrocortisone, serotonin, and histamine were measured radioimmunologically in 58 cases of small cell lung cancer prior to treatment. Elevated concentrations of CEA (61%) and ACTH (44%) were relatively frequent. Blood plasma--ACTH level in cases of expanded small cell lung cancer was higher than in healthy subjects and patients with localized tumor. A correlation was found between cancer patients survival time and the basal levels of CEA, ACTH and calcitonin. Polyamines were assayed in diurnal urine of 24 cancer patients prior to treatment and during chemotherapy. The mean level of putrescine before treatment was much in excess of normal value. Responders to treatment revealed a considerable rise in spermidine excretion within the first 10 days after treatment. In non-responders, spermidine excretion remained at the same level.