Serum and urinary inhibin levels in gastric carcinoma patients before and after gastrectomy

The levels of serum and urinary inhibin were measured by RIA in women with carcinoma of the stomach before and after gastrectomy. Significantly high inhibin levels were observed in serum (p < 0.01) and urine (p < 0.001) of cancer patients as compared to normal control women. Following surgical treatment, the serum and urinary inhibin levels reverted towards the normal inhibin values. Surprisingly enough, inhibin excretion in the morning urine samples was more or less the same as compared to twenty-four hour urine. Presence of inhibin in proliferative disorders of the stomach suggests a possible regulatory role for inhibin in gastric proliferation and growth.