[Main indicators of hormonal status in lung diseases]

A radioimmunoassay was used in vitro in the blood serum of 156 lung cancer patients, 21 patients with benign pulmonary tumors and 100 patients with chronic nonspecific pulmonary diseases to study the levels of 9 hormones reflecting function of the major links of endocrine regulation. The most important feature of pulmonary tumor growth was the activation of the hypophyseal-adrenal system. Endocrine shifts in lung cancer and in chronic nonspecific pulmonary diseases were similar in nature. Of the entire spectrum of hormones the importance of ACTH, cortisol, calcitonin and parathyroid hormone was emphasized in differential diagnosis of lung cancer.