Evaluating Serotonin Levels in Sera Samples of Patients with Colon Tumors: Implications for Prognosis and Treatment

BACKGROUND: The role of serotonin, a well-known neurotransmitter, in the tumor biology of colorectal cancer (CRC) calls for further research. CRC poses a significant risk in global public health. Elevated levels of serotonin have been correlated with worse outcomes and progression of the tumor. Aims...

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Main Authors: Ameerah Mrebee Zarzoor, Ahmed Ghdhban Al-Ziaydi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Applied Hematology
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Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/joah.joah_8_25
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Summary:BACKGROUND: The role of serotonin, a well-known neurotransmitter, in the tumor biology of colorectal cancer (CRC) calls for further research. CRC poses a significant risk in global public health. Elevated levels of serotonin have been correlated with worse outcomes and progression of the tumor. Aims and Objectives: The study sought to assess the serum serotonin levels in colon cancer patients and compare them with healthy controls, as well as evaluate the possible effects on prognosis and treatment outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred participants consisting of fifty colon tumor patients and fifty healthy controls were recruited from the oncology department of the Kut Teaching Hospital. Blood serum samples were taken from each candidate to assess the levels of serotonin through an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and stored at -80 degrees celsius until analysis. Participants filled in demographic forms and the gathered data was analyzed using t-tests, correlation and regression analysis to find possible relationships between the demographics and serum serotonin concentration. RESULTS: Colon cancer patients had markedly higher serotonin levels in comparison to the healthy controls. The average serotonin levels among the patients and controls were 105.232 ± 414.516 ng/mL and 0.9047 ± 0.08772 ng/mL, respectively. As described previously, the difference observed was highly significant with a P-value of less than 0.001. Neither of the two associations with age (r=-0.151, P=0.295) and sex (r=-0.90, p=0.534) were found to be important with regard to levels of serotonin. As for sex, regression analysis found F=4.491, P=0.039) along with the stage of disease having a substantial F value (F=169, P=0.001). The stage of disease was noted to have impact on the levels of serotonin. CONCLUSION: It was noted in the data that the impact which serotonin has on the pathophysiology of colon cancers, in particular, its possible role in aiding the development, progression, and metastasis of cancers is indeed significant. There is a need to look deeper into the serotonergic system of patients with colon cancer to design treatment strategies which could potentially improve the outcomes of the patients.
ISSN:1658-5127
2454-6976