Elevated Plasma and Tissue Concentrations of β-Endorphin and β-Lipotropin Associated with an Ectopic ACTH-Producing Lung Tumor

Summary

β-Endorphin- and ACTH-like immunoreactive peptides were measured in plasma and certain tissues of a patient suffering from an oat-cell-carcinoma of the lungs and Cushing's syndrome. Using sensitive radioimmunoassays in combination with gel-filtration, highly elevated levels of β-endorphin, β-lipotropin (β-LPH), α-melanotropin (α-MSH) and ACTH were found.

Key-Words

Ectopic Lung Tumor - Plasma - Tissue - ACTH - α-MSH - β-LPH - β-Endorphin