Effect of resection of lung tumours on the steroid abnormalities in patients with lung cancer.

The urinary excretion of androsterone, aetiocholanolone, total 17-oxosteroids, and 17-hydroxycorticosteroids (17-OHCS) was measured in 40 patients with lung cancer three days before resection and again 10-15 days after resection of their lung tumours. There was a significant postoperative increase in the excretion of 17-OHCS but a significant decrease in the excretion of androsterone and aetiocholanolone, resulting in an increase of the preoperative abnormalities in steroid excretion in these patients. Since there was no change in steroid excretion towards normal after resection of the lung tumours, it seems that the steroid abnormalities found in lung cancer are not the effect of the presence of the lung tumours. As the excretions of 17-OHCS and 11-deoxy-17-oxosteroids change in opposite directions after resection, it is suggested that a dissociation of factors that control the excretion of these two groups of steroids takes place as a response to surgical stress in patients with lung cancer.