Hormonal polypeptides and amine metabolites in small cell carcinoma of the lung, with special reference to stage and subtypes

Abstract

To elucidate the ectopic hormonal pattern in patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung, plasma ACTH, serum calcitonin, serum gastrin, plasma glucagon, serum insulin, plasma secretin, plasma VIP, serum growth hormone, serum hCG/LH, the total of serum hCG and hCG‐β‐subunit, serum α‐subunit, serum human placental lactogen, urine ADH, urine 5‐HIAA, urine VMA, urine HVA, and urine hCG‐LH were measured prior to therapy in 75 patients. Twenty‐two patients (29%) had elevated plasma ACTH, and 18 of these had concomitant increased values of corticosteroids in a 24‐hour urine sample. Forty‐eight patients (64%) were found to have elevated serum calcitonin, and one‐third of the patients were diagnosed as having the ectopic ADH syndrome. Serum gastrin concentrations were increased in 20% of the patients, but the elevations were marginal in almost all cases. None of the remaining substances was found to be significantly elevated. Concentrations of plasma ACTH, serum calcitonin, and urine ADH were not found to be correlated with the stage of the disease, and no correlation of these substances with the histological subtypes of small cell carcinoma was disclosed.