title: Changes in protein turnover, IGF-I and IGF binding proteins in children with cancer.
abstract: Changes in insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) were correlated with protein synthesis and breakdown using [1-13C]leucine before chemotherapy and during subsequent febrile neutropenia (FN) in eight children with cancer, aged 6.3-17.5 y. IGF-I levels were similar to age-matched controls before chemotherapy (mean +/- SEM: 250+/-28 and 228+/-22 microg l(-1), respectively). During FN, IGF-I fell to 156+/-22 microg l(-1) (p = 0.02), and rose to 276+/-27 microg l(-1) with recovery at 6 months (p = 0.004). Similarly, IGFBP-3 decreased from 4.0+/-0.2 mg l(-1) before chemotherapy to 3.0+/-0.3 mg l(-1) during FN (p = 0.01), and returned to 4.1+/-0.2 mg l(-1) at 6 months (p = 0.01). IGF-I correlated with IGFBP-3 (r = +0.7, p < 0.001). Scanning densitometry showed a decrease in IGFBP-3 from 94 to 54% during FN, when the presence of IGFBP-3 protease activity was observed. Compared with normal human serum, IGFBP-2 was elevated throughout the study. IGFBP-1 increased from 14.6+/-3.5 to 30.6+/-2.8 microg l(-1) (p = 0.004), whereas serum insulin decreased from 26.5+/-6.8 to 7.8+/-0.8 mU l(-1) (p = 0.03) before and during FN, respectively. Whilst IGF-I and IGFBP-3 fell, daytime growth hormone increased from 3.3+/-0.6 to 6.7+/-0.8 mU l(-1) (p=0.01), and cortisol from 197+/-48 to 594+/-98 nmol l(-1) (p = 0.005). Albumin decreased from 47+/-2 to 38+/-2 g l(-1) (p = 0.004) and improved to 47+/-2 g l(-1) with recovery (p = 0.003). Protein synthesis increased from 4.5+/-0.4 to 5.0+/-0.6 g kg(-1)d(-1) before chemotherapy and during FN, while protein breakdown rose from 5.4+/-0.4 to 6.3+/-0.4 kg(-1)d(-1). Increasing protein breakdown was related to falling IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels. Modification of IGFBP-3 by circulating proteolytic activity may alter IGF bioavailability, allowing protein synthesis to increase during periods of severe catabolic stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, St Luke's Hospital, Gwardamangia, Malta.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Attard-Montalto
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Camacho-Hübner
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cotterill
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: D'Souza-Li
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daley
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bartlett
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Halliday
authors.forename: O B
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Eden
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002100:Cachexia / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018232:Rhabdomyosarcoma, Alveolar / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I