Effect of glucocorticoids on the level of endogenous cortisol in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer
10.3781/j.issn.1000-7431.2009.12.013
- VernacularTitle:糖皮质激素对晚期消化管肿瘤患者内源性皮质醇水平的影响
- Author:
Naijian GE
;
Yefa YANG
;
Shuqun SHEN
;
Jun LIANG
;
Mengchao WU
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Digestive system neoplasms;
Hydrocortisone;
Glucocorticoids;
Palliative care
- From:
Tumor
2009;(12):1163-1166
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To observe the level of endogenous cortisol in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer, and to evaluate the effect of exogenous glucocorticoids treatment on patient's malignant symptoms and serum cortisol level. Methods:Thirty-one patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer who were given 40 mg/d methylprednisolone for continuous 5 days. The patients included 8 patients with esophageal and cardial cancer, 12 patients with gastric cancer, and 11 patients with colorectal cancer. At the same time, 30 healthy adults were selected as control group. The cortisol radioactive immunoassay kit was used to determine the level of serum cortisol in the gastrointestinal cancer patients and controls. The life quality changes of gastrointestinal cancer patients were evaluated. Results:The serum cortisol level of 31 advanced gastrointestinal cancer patients was higher than that of healthy volunteers [(312.39±57.64)vs(144.64±52.20) μg/L,P<0.01]. The average serum cortisol levels in the patients with esophageal cancer, gastric cancer and colorectal cancer were higher than healthy controls (P<0.05). The serum cortisol level in gastric cancer patients was the highest among the three types of gastrointestinal cancers (P<0.01). After being treated with exogenous glucocorticoids, the five parameters such as appetite, spirit, sleeping, fatigue and pain in gastrointestinal cancer patients were improved significantly. During the course of exogenous glucocorticoid treatment, there were no serious complications. The serum cortisol levels after exogenous glucocorticoid treatment did not change significantly in the patients with esophageal cancer, gastric cancer and colorectal cancer (P>0.05). Conclusion:Endogenous serum cortisol levels of gastrointestinal cancer patients were significantly higher than those of healthy adults. Short-term treatment with medium dosage of exogenous glucocorticoids had little effect on the endogenous serum cortisol level.
