INCREASED GROWTH-HORMONE RESPONSES TO GROWTH-HORMONE RELEASING HORMONE AND THYROTROPIN-RELEASING-HORMONE IN PATIENTS WITH METASTATIC TESTICULAR CANCER

In 16 patients with metastatic testicular cancer and 10 age matched male control subjects growth hormone (GH) responses to growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH; 1 μg/kg body weight iv.) and thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH; 200 μg iv.) were measured. Basal GH levels and GH levels following stimulation with GHRH or TRH were significantly increased in cancer patients compared to control subjects. 9 patients with testicular cancer were studied both in the stage of metastatic disease and after they had reached a complete remission. In complete remission GH responses to GHRH tended to decrease but the differences did not reach statistical significance. Our data suggest an alteration of hypothalamic and/or pituitary regulation of GH secretion in patients with metastatic testicular cancer.