Colon Cancer and Amidated Gastrin: Correlation with AtrophicGastritis and Helicobacter
Chung Hwan Chung, M.D., Young-Ho Kim, M.D., Hyuk Lee, M.D., Ju Ik Sohn, M.D.,Heung Up
Division of Gastroenterology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University, School of
Abstract
Background/Aims: It has recently been reported that non-amidated gastrin is associated
with the development of colon cancer. However it is not known whether amidated gastrin, atrophic
gastritis, and the status of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection are related to colon cancer. The
aims of this study were to determine whether plasma level of amidated gastrin is elevated in patients
with colon cancer compared with controls and to determine whether H. pylori infection and/or
atrophic gastritis affect the relationship between amidated gastrin and colon cancer. Methods:
Twenty-two patients with colon cancer and twenty-two controls were enrolled in this study and their
plasma amidated gastrin titers were measured by 125I radioimmunoassay. H. pylori infection was
determined by histology. The degree of mucosal atrophy was determined by Sidney classification.
Results: Amidated gastrin levels were not different between the patients with colon cancer and
controls. The status of H. pylori infection did correlate with amidated gastrin levels. Antral mucosal
atrophy was not also correlated with amidated gastrin levels, but there was a tendency (p=0.074).
Conclusions: Amidated gastrin is not related to the development of colon cancer. (Korean J
Gastrointest Endosc 2004;28:168172)