Serum gastrin levels in different stages of distal gastric carcinogenesis: is there a role for serum gastrin in tumor growth?

Background/Aims: Elevated levels of serum gastrin (SG) have been associated with tumorigenic effects in a number of gastrointestinal cancers. We decided to investigate the relationship between SG and gastric epithelial lesions. Materials and Methods: A total of 90 patients with gastric epithelial lesions (hyperplastic polyp, 12; adenoma, 41; early gastric cancer, 29; advanced gastric cancer, 8) were enrolled as the case group and 79 patients without epithelial lesions were enrolled as the control group. Results: Serum gastrin levels were significantly different between the case and control groups (p 80 pg/mL), intestinal metaplasia, and a pepsinogen I/II ratio 0.05). Conclusion: An increased SG level was an independent and potent risk factor for gastric epithelial lesions. However, it does not seem to relate with distal gastric tumor growth. Serial decreases in SG levels should be considered a warning sign in index hypergastrinemic patients with no prior Helicobacter pylori eradication.