LOW-LEVELS OF COLONIC SOMATOSTATIN AND GALANIN IN PATIENTS WITH COLON-CARCINOMA

The gut neuroendocrine peptides play an important role in regulation o f the proliferation of epithelial and mesenchymal cells. Recent studie s have shown that colon carcinoma cells possess receptors for several neuroendocrine peptides. It has been shown, further, that several neur oendocrine peptides affect proliferation and growth of colon carcinoma cells. In the present study, the concentrations of 10 neuroendocrine peptides known to occur in the colon were determined by radioimmuno-as says in the colon of 12 patients with colon adenocarcinoma. As control , macroscopically and histopathologically normal colon from 6 patients who had undergone colonectomy because of polyps, chronic diverticulit is, prolapsis and volvulus were used. The levels of somatostatin and g alanin were significantly lower than those of the controls. There was no significant difference between the patients and controls regarding the levels of PP, PYY, NPY, VIP, substance P, neurotensin, GRP or enke phalin. Both somatostatin and galanin are known to inhibit colon cance r cell proliferation. The present findings showed that a disturbance i n the neuroendocrine system occurs in the colon of patients with colon carcinoma which might have an impact on the proliferation and growth of the tumour. Furthermore, the present observation might have implica tions for the management and treatment of colon carcinoma.