Anti-aging therapy with human growth hormone associated with metastatic colon cancer in a patient with Crohn's colitis.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

The nonapproved use of human growth hormone (HGH) for anti-aging has been increasing. Theoretical concerns for neoplastic potentiation by HGH have been raised, but not proven clinically.

Methods

We report the case of a 68-year-old man with colonic Crohn's disease who was found to have aggressive metastatic colon cancer. The patient had been receiving HGH therapy for anti-aging purposes for 7 years before presentation. Normal and malignant colonic tissue was examined for qualitative and quantitative molecular profiles of growth hormone (GH) and its signaling molecules, using immunohistochemistry and RNA extraction with polymerase chain reaction amplification.

Results

Immunoreactivity was more robust in tumor tissue than in normal colon for insulin-lik

SUBMITTER: Melmed GY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2696478 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature