Supporting families with a very low birthweight baby

OBJECTIVES: To test the hypothesis of a fluctuation of circulating levels of endogenous Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF alpha) in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer. METHODS: Serum levels of TNF alpha were measured at 8 a.m., 3 p.m., midnight and 3 a.m. in 21 patients with advanced cancer. RESULTS: Serum TNF alpha levels were substantially increased in patients with advanced cancer as compared to healthy subjects. Peak value appeared at 3 a.m., and gradually declined to very low levels in the afternoon (3 p.m.). Using cosinor least square methods we could not find the circadian rhythm of TNF alpha.