Levels of sexual hormones in plasma of male patients with lung cancer and their clinical significance

Abstract

To determine the levels of several sexual hormones in plasma of male patients with lung cancer and to evaluate their clinical significance. The levels of estradiol ( E₂ ) , progesterone ( P) , testosterone (T) , follicle stimulating hormone( FSH) , and lutenising hormone( LH) in plasma of 70 patients with lung cancer, 30 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease( COPD) , and 30 healthy men were measured by enzyme immunoassay magnetic solid phase( IEMA) . The difference of sexual hormone levels was compared among male lung cancer patients by different tumor size, clinical stage, and pathological type The E₂ level and the ratio of E₂/ T ( 24. 7 ng/ L±19. 1 ng/ L and 10. 9±9. 8) were significantly increased in male patients with lung cancer than those in normal adults( 12. 6 ng/ L ± 4. 8 ng / L and 3. 4±1. 6) ( P < 0. 001) . Compared with control group, the level of plasma T in male patients ( 3. 3μg/ L±1. 5μg/L) was significantly decreased ( P< 0. 05) , but there was no difference between lung cancer group and COPD group ( P > 0. 05) . The level of E₂ and the ratio of E₂/ T had close relationship with the tumor size and clinical stage ( P < 0. 01) . Compared with squamous cell carcinoma group, the level of plasma T in adenocarcinoma patients ( 2. 3μg/ L ± 1. 2μg/ L) was significantly decreased ( P< 0. 05) , but other levels of sexual hormones didn# t relate to the pathological type of tumor ( P > 0. 05) . The results suggest that the determination of the levels of T, E₂ and the ratio of E₂ /T might be helpful for the diagnosis of male lung cancer and to predict the stage of male patients.