beta-endorphin and Carcinoma--Squamous-Cell

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing); APUD Cells; beta-Endorphin; Calcitonin; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cell Differentiation; Cell Division; Cell Line; Dopa Decarboxylase; Endorphins; Humans; Lung Neoplasms

Topics: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; alpha-MSH; beta-Endorphin; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cells, Cultured; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Humans; Melanocytes; Melanoma; Skin Neoplasms

Recent studies of the effects of endorphins and other neuropeptides on immune mechanisms suggest that immune reactive cells have specific opioid-like and nonopioid endorphin receptors, and indicate that neuropeptides may participate in regulating in vivo immune functions. Earlier demonstrations of impaired cellular immunity and impaired lymphokine production in patients with cancer of the head and neck prompted an investigation of the in vitro effects of beta-endorphin on the production of leukocyte migration inhibitory factor (LIF) in 29 patients with head and neck cancer and in 45 normal subjects. LIF production in response to phytohemagglutinin was significantly less in the cancer patients compared to normal subjects (p less than .001). beta-endorphin significantly enhanced LIF production in the cancer patients (p = .01) to levels that did not differ significantly from normal levels. A correlation of levels of lymphocyte subpopulations in the cancer patients suggested that enhancement of lymphokine production by beta-endorphin was related to levels of T8 (suppressor/cytotoxic) cells. The results confirm earlier demonstrations of impaired lymphokine production in patients with head and neck cancer and indicate that beta-endorphin can modulate in vitro lymphokine responses in such patients. These findings suggest that neuroendocrine peptides may play an important role in regulating immune function. Further study of the role of neuropeptides in the immune response should provide additional insight into the characterization of cellular immune dysfunction associated with head and neck cancer and should lead to the development of innovative immunotherapeutic treatment strategies.

Topics: Adult; Aged; beta-Endorphin; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cell Migration Inhibition; Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; Endorphins; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Humans; Leukocyte Migration-Inhibitory Factors; Leukocytes; Lymphocytes; Lymphokines; Middle Aged; Phytohemagglutinins

A rare case of metastatic lung cancer from the tonsil associated with ectopic ACTH, beta-LPH and beta-endorphin production was presented. A year ater the tonsillectomy and lymphadenectomy, the patient had metastatic lung cancer. Three years later he died. Brown pigmentation remained evident for a month before his death. Both ACTH and cortisol levels were high in the plasma. ACTH, beta-LPH and beta-endorphin were found in the tissue extracts (squamous cell carcinoma).

Topics: ACTH Syndrome, Ectopic; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; beta-Endorphin; beta-Lipotropin; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Endorphins; Hormones, Ectopic; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Tonsillar Neoplasms

The association of hormonal syndrome and APUD (amine precursor uptake, decarboxylase) features with small cell carcinoma of the lung (SCC) has suggested that SCC has a separate cell origin from other major forms of lung cancer. Recently, however, both SCC and non-SCC lung cancers have been found to contain small polypeptide hormones and APUD enzymes. The present study quantitates, in 50 samples of human lung cancer tissue, relationships among the 4 major types of lung cancer and endocrine-related properties. Among 4 parameters measured (dopa decarboxylase, histaminase, beta-endorphin, and calcitonin), no single marker clearly separated SCC from non-SCC lung cancer. The high activity of dopa decarboxylase (the "D" in "APUD") best separated SCC from non-SCC, but significant overlap existed even for this critical APUD property. In fact, 2 adenocarcinomas had among the highest concentrations of dopa decarboxylase, histaminase, and calcitonin of any tumor tissue studied. The simultaneous appearance of high levels of 2 or more markers favored SCC. This was quantitated by deriving an index unit based upon the product of the values for the 4 markers in each lesion. This index separated all SCC from all non-SCC lung carcinomas, with the exception of the above 2 adenocarcinomas. Endocrine-related properties thus occur throughout the spectrum of human lung cancer. Biochemical differences between the major histopathological types are quantitative rather than qualitative and probably reflect the fact that the major forms of lung cancer represent a continuum of differentiation within a common cell lineage which includes both SCC and non-SCC lung tumors.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing); APUD Cells; Aromatic-L-Amino-Acid Decarboxylases; beta-Endorphin; Calcitonin; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Dopa Decarboxylase; Endorphins; Humans; Lung Neoplasms