PITUITARY-GONADAL DYSFUNCTION IN MALE-PATIENTS WITH LUNG-CANCER - ASSOCIATION WITH SERUM INHIBIN LEVELS

Male lung cancer patients with poor performance status have an endocri nological dysfunction shown by decreased serum levels of total and fre e testosterone (AFTC). The intention was to investigate whether or not inhibin plays a role in gonadal dysfunction observed in male patients with malignant pulmonary disease. Twenty-seven patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer were included. Sixteen patients we re within ECOG index 1-2 (group A) and 11 patients within ECOG index 3 -4 (group B). Gonadal function was monitored by serum LH, FSH, testost erone, SHBG and inhibin levels. Patients with poor performance status displayed significantly lower inhibin (1.6 +/- 0.8 U/l) and AFTC (0.23 +/- 0.07 nmol/l) levels when compared to patients within ECOG index 1 -2 (inhibin 2.4 +/- 1.1 U/l; AFTC 0.66 +/- 0.36 nmol/l). Serum inhibin tended to correlate inversely to FSH with a 4.4-fold higher FSH/inhib in ratio in group B compared to A.