Ectopic hormones in lung cancer patients at diagnosis and during therapy.

In roughly 10 patients with lung cancer of various histologic types, the levels of hormones adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), calcitonin, parathormone, beta-choriogonadotropin (HCG), human placental lactogen (HPL), growth hormone (HGH), and prolactin were determined by radioimmunoassay. The ACTH level was elevated in 30% of patients with oat cell carcinoma and in 26% of patients with large cell carcinoma. Calcitonin levels were increased in 48% of patients with oat cell carcinoma. Elevated levels of HCG were found in 33% of patients with oat cell carcinoma, in 26% of patients with large cell carcinoma, and in 19% of patients with squamous cell carcinoma. Parathormone was increased in 32% of patients with squamous cell carcinoma in 27% of patients with oat cell carcinoma, and in a few patients with large cell carcinoma. Prolactin, HCG and HPL were present only in single cases. Elevated levels of at least one hormone were found in 65.2% of all patients, and in 78% of the patients with oat cell carcinoma. Serial determinations of ACTH and calcitonin showed that these hormones are useful for monitoring therapy in lung patients. There was no relation between hormone levels and the clinical stage of disease.