title: Blood levels of IGF-I in non-small cell lung cancer: relation to clinical data.
abstract: Recent observations have demonstrated that somatomedins, mainly insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), are growth factors for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). On the basis of this evidence, a study was started to evaluate serum levels of IGF-I in a group of untreated NSCLC patients. The study included 46 patients, 25 of whom had an operable tumor, while the other 21 showed distant organ metastases. IGF-I and GH serum levels were measured by RIA in each patient; moreover, in operable patients, hormonal detections were made either before, or 7 days after surgery. The control group comprised 38 age-matched healthy subjects. Mean serum levels of IGF-I were significantly higher in cancer patients with respect to controls, while no difference was seen in mean GH values. Moreover, patients with metastases showed significantly higher levels of IGF-I than the patients without. Within the operable group, patients with lung adenocarcinoma had higher levels of IGF-I than those with epidermoid cell carcinoma, but this difference was not significant. Finally, no significant difference in IGF-I mean values was seen before and after surgical removal of tumors. This preliminary study shows that NSCLC patients may present abnormally high levels of IGF-I. Because of the stimulating role of IGF-I on NSCLC growth, this evidence could play a role in the clinical course of neoplastic lung disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tisi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lissoni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rovelli
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mandelli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tancini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone