Pilot study of elevated levels of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-2 as indicators of hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) is expressed in many malignant tissues, and elevated serum levels can be indicators of tumour activity in addition to conventional tumour markers. Our aim was to evaluate the role of IGFBP-2 levels together with insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, IGF-II and IGFBP-3 in the diagnostic work-up of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).


METHODS
In 50 (39 males, 11 females) histologically confirmed and TNM-graded patients with HCC who had not received adjuvant chemotherapy, the basal serum levels of IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP-3, IGFBP-2 and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were measured. The median age of the patients was 66 (37-84) years, body mass index was normal (25 (35-16) kg/m2).


RESULTS
The levels of IGF-I, IGF-II and IGFBP-3 were diminished, as is the case when nutrition, hepatic function and growth hormone (GH) secretion are decreased. The levels of AFP and IGFBP-2 were markedly high. In 37 cases, IGFBP-2 levels were above the age-related norm, and in 40 cases AFP levels were also elevated. In 3 cases, both AFP and IGFBP-3 were normal, and in 4 cases AFP was high but IGFBP-2 normal, whereas in 10 cases AFP was normal but IGFBP-2 was high.


CONCLUSIONS
In addition to AFP, IGFBP-2 appears to be a suitable marker for the evaluation of the serological status of HCC patients. A longitudinal study during disease management is required to assess the full potential of IGFBP-2 measurements as a marker.
Ranke
Michael B
MB
Paediatric Endocrinology Section, University Children's Hospital, Tübingen, Germany. mlranke@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Maier
Klaus-Peter
KP
Schweizer
Roland
R
Stadler
Bernd
B
Schleicher
Sabine
S
Elmlinger
Martin W
MW
Flehmig
Bertram
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018971:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2 / Q000097:blood*; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000032:analysis; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010865:Pilot Projects; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
D018971:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II