ACTIVITY OF THE PINEAL GLAND, THYMUS AND HYPOPHYSIAL-ADRENAL SYSTEM IN ONCOLOGICAL PATIENTS
I.F. Labunets, Yu.A. Grinevich
Institute of Oncology, Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv 03022, Ukraine
Abstract. Melatonin, thymic serum factor (FTS), alpha-melanocytestimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and cortisol levels in blood serum and urine of healthy subjects and patients with skin melanoma and malignant thymoma of different age groups have been studied. It has been found that in healthy 20–29 year old men the highest melatonin level was observed in winter, those of FTS, cortisol and alpha-MSH — in summer-autumn, autumn-winter and summer, respectively. In male induviduals over 30 years, the increase of melatonin level in winter was not registered, and in those over 40, the stable secretion of FTS and cortisol and decrease of alpha-MSH acrophase at spring time were observed. In healthy women under 40, melatonin level was heightened in follicular and luteal phase of cycle and that of FTS — in luteal phase. Stability of melatonin secretion and reduction of FTS content in luteal phase of cycle were typical for women over 40. The age-related disorders of indices were more pronounced upon tumor development. In men under 40 years suffering from melanoma and thymoma, circannual changes of pineal gland, thymus and hypophysial-adrenal system function were typical for healthy subjects after 40 years. In women with melanoma and thymoma under 40 years melatonin and FTS level during menstrual cycle were similar with those in healthy women over 40. In healthy subjects and oncological patients statistically significant correlation between the levels of examined hormones was found.
