The role of insulin-like growth factor 1 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 in human esophageal cancer.
BACKGROUND
Insulin-like growth factors (1GF-1) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) play important roles in cell growth and differentiation. The aim of this work was to investigate the roles of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 in esophageal cancer.


METHODS
We examined the circulating IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 concentration in 18 healthy controls and 66 esophageal cancer patients by ELISA and a ligand capture immunoassay. Immunohistochemistry for IGF-1 was performed on surgical specimens obtained from 93 patients with esophageal cancer.


RESULTS
The serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels were significantly elevated in patients compared with healthy subjects and there was a positive correlation between IGF-1 and IGFBP-3. There was a significant correlation between IGF-1 level and depth of invasion and pathological stage. Poor prognosis was significantly correlated with increasing IGF-1 levels. The survival rates of high IGF-1 expression immunohistochemical study patients were poorer than those of low expression patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Elevated serum IGF-1 levels may be an important predictor of risk for esophageal cancer. IGF-1 related to the progression of esophageal cancer may depend on an autocrine function of IGF-1.
Sohda
Makoto
M
Department of General Surgical Science, Gunma University Faculty of Medicine, Maebashi, 371-8511, Japan. msohda@med.gunma-u.ac.jp
Kato
Hiroyuki
H
Miyazaki
Tatsuya
T
Nakajima
Masanobu
M
Fukuchi
Minoru
M
Manda
Ryokuhei
R
Fukai
Yasuyuki
Y
Masuda
Norihiro
N
Kuwano
Hiroyuki
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000097:blood*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis
D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I