Summary
Background: Numerous interactions exist among the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems, mediated by neurotransmitters, hormones, and cytokines. Melatonin may modulate the integrated functions of a unique neuro-immune-endocrine system. Neoplastic diseases may be linked to progressive loss of integration among these systems. We investigated whether there are differences among healthy elderly people and elderly people suffering from lung cancer at different stages of disease in 24-hour melatonin and cortisol secretory profi les.
Material/Methods: In seventeen healthy subjects (mean age ±S.E.: 68.8±1.92 years), seventeen patients with stage I and II lung cancer (mean age: 67.2±0.80), seventeen patients with stage III and IV lung cancer (mean age: 69.5±2.26), melatonin and cortisol serum levels were measured in blood samples collected
every four hours for 24 hours. The area under the curve (AUC) and the presence of circadian rhythmicity were evaluated.
Results: The circadian rhythm of melatonin was present in all the groups, but serum levels were decreased in the subjects suffering from lung cancer (P

Keywords: Circadian Rhythm - physiology, Hydrocortisone - blood, Lung Neoplasms - blood, Lung Neoplasms - pathology, Melatonin - blood, Reference Values, Circadian Rhythm - physiology, Hydrocortisone - blood, Lung Neoplasms - pathology, Melatonin - blood, Reference Values