Levels of circulating peptide and steroid hormones in men with lung cancer.

Levels of circulating peptide (FSH, LH, prolactin, ACTH, calcitonin, gastrin and insulin-like growth factor-1 [IGF-1]) and steroid (estradiol, progesterone, DHEA-S and testosterone) hormones were estimated by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) in male patients with lung cancer (n = 37) pre-therapeutically and compared with 25 age matched healthy controls. In this retrospective study, FSH, LH, prolactin, ACTH, calcitonin, gastrin and IGF-1 were significantly higher with concomitant lower levels of DHEA-S and testosterone, while the difference was statistically non-significant for estradiol and progesterone in patients with lung cancer when compared with controls. Early stage patients (Stage II) exhibited higher levels of gastrin as compared to advanced stage patients (Stages III and IV). It is suggested that hormonal imbalance might play an important role in the development and progression in male patients with lung cancer.