Premium
Asymptomatic production of acth. Radio immunoassay in squamous cell, oat cell and adenocarcinoma of the lung
Author(s) -
HaugerKlevene Julia H.
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(196811)22:6<1262::aid-cncr2820220625>3.0.co;2-b
Subject(s) - medicine , asymptomatic , endocrinology , adenocarcinoma , dexamethasone , squamous cell carcinoma of the lung , adrenal cortex , lung , metastasis , endocrine system , carcinoma , cancer , hormone
Twenty‐six patients with carcinoma of the lung and normal electrolytes were studied at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Hospital. The most significant findings were: elevated plasma ACTH, lack of diurnal rhythm, and failure of dexamethasone to suppress plasma ACTH in eight patients. Two patients had oat cell carcinoma, three had squamous cell carcinoma and three had adenocarcinoma of the lung. ACTH‐like material was found in the tumor tissue of one patient with squamous cell carcinoma. Plasma corticoids were elevated in 76% of the patients due to the effect of severe disease on the pituitary‐adrenal axis and increased binding of plasma corticoids to plasma proteins. It is suggested that increased production of estrogen from the adrenal cortex may play an important role in the binding of cortisol to plasma protein. Plasma ACTH is the most reliable index in diagnosing “non‐endocrine” Cushing's syndrome; it is an effective indicator of response to treatment or in determining the emergence of functioning metastasis.