title: Suramin and serum insulin-like growth factor levels in metastatic cancer patients.
abstract: Suramin, a polysulphonated naphthylurea, inhibits the activity of several growth factors in in vitro experiments and clinical responses have been reported in human solid tumors. We decided to investigate the relationship between suramin treatment and serum levels of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and II (IGF-II) in advanced breast, prostate and lung cancer patients. The serum IGF-I, IGF-II levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. A significant decline of IGF-I and IGF-II serum levels was demonstrated in suramin treated patients. Our results suggest that suramin-induced IGF suppression could be one of the possible mechanisms of suramin action.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Department of Medical Oncology II, Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Miglietta
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barreca
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Repetto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Costantini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosso
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boccardo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis*; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000032:analysis*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013498:Suramin / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D013498:Suramin; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II