title: Endometrial cancer and the IGF system: a case-control study in Greece.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and other components of the IGF system have been implicated in the etiology of several human malignancies. We have undertaken a case-control study among Greek women to explore the relation of major components of the IGF system (IGF-I, IGF-II and IGF-binding protein 3, IGFBP-3) with endometrial cancer risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  During a 1-year period (1999), 84 incident cases of histologically confirmed endometrial cancer were compared with 84 control women admitted to the same clinical department for small gynecological operations, mainly pelvic prolapse. Data were modeled through multiple logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Endometrial cancer was positively associated with IGF-II and inversely with IGF-I. Both associations were statistically significant and they appear symmetrical around the null value. IGFBP-3 is positively associated with endometrial cancer risk, but this association does not reach statistical significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study adds to the gradually developing consensus that components of the IGF system play a central role in human carcinogenesis. It is possible that IGF-II, rather than IGF-I, is closely linked to the etiology of endometrial cancer, the form of cancer most strongly associated with obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece. epetrid@med.uoa.gr
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Petridou
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koukoulomatis
authors.forename: Delia Marina
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Alexe
authors.forename: Zannis
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Voulgaris
authors.forename: Evagelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Spanos
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Trichopoulos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000097:blood*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000378:metabolism*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II