Expression of the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor in primary breast cancer and lymph node metastases: correlations with estrogen receptors alpha and beta.
Numerous laboratory studies and some epidemiological data have suggested the involvement of the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR) in breast cancer development and progression. However, data on IGF-IR expression in human tissues, including breast cancer sections, are limited and often inconsistent. We therefore examined by immunohistochemistry the expression of IGF-IR in primary tumors and breast cancer metastases to lymph nodes, and correlated IGF-IR positivity with estrogen receptor (ER) status and selected clinicopathological features. We found that 1) IGF-IR was expressed in primary tumors as well as in lymph node metastases, but the expression in primary tumors was more frequent (56 % vs. 44.4 %); 2) IGF-IR expression in primary tumors was associated with negative node status (p < 0.033); 3) in node-negative primary tumors, IGF-IR positively correlated with ERbeta (p < 0.008; r = 0.538), but not with ERalpha, tumor size or grade; 4) both IGF-IR-positive and IGF-IR-negative primary tumors were found to produce IGF-IR-positive as well as IGF-IR-negative metastases; 5) in metastases, IGF-IR expression did not associate with ERalpha, ERbeta or any of the studied pathobiological markers. The results suggest that IGF-IR could become a viable pharmaceutical target in breast cancer therapy, but such therapy should be based on IGF-IR assessment in primary tumor and metastasis in each potential patient.
Koda
M
M
Department of Clinical Pathology, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland.
Sulkowski
S
S
Garofalo
C
C
Kanczuga-Koda
L
L
Sulkowska
M
M
Surmacz
E
E
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*
D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1