Serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-I and -II and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 in women with squamous intraepithelial lesions and cervical cancer.
BACKGROUND
Pap smear has limitations as a screening test for cervical cancer. A marker that allows the identification of women who are at risk of developing cervical cancer would be useful for its prevention. A growing number of studies have demonstrated an association between insulin-like growth factors (IGF) serum levels and increased risk for various cancers. Objective. To assess whether circulating IGF-I, IGF-II, or IGF binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) were associated with cervical cancer and low-grade and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL and HSIL).


METHODS
Serum levels of IGF-I, IGF-II and IGFBP-3 were measured by ELISA. Three groups of cases were analyzed: LSIL (n = 37), HSIL (n = 57), and cervical cancer (n = 41). For each case, two controls, matched by age, were included. Control subjects were women with normal, HPV-DNA-negative Pap smear.


RESULTS
Significantly lower values of IGF-I (83.9 ng/ml versus 126.6 ng/ml, p < 0.001) and IGF-I:IGFBP-3 molar ratio (0.094 versus 0.137, p < 0.001) were observed among cancer cases, as compared to their control group. Women in the highest quartile of IGF-I and IGF-I:IGFBP-3 molar ratio were at an 80% (OR = 0.2, 95% CI [0.06-0.61]) and a 77% (OR = 0.23, 95% CI [0.07-0.73]) lower risk of cervical cancer, respectively, compared with women in the corresponding reference category.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that low values of IGF-I and IGF-I:IGFBP-3 molar ratio may be associated with cervical cancer.
Serrano
Martha Lucía
ML
Grupo de Investigación en Biología del Cancer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Bogota D.C., Colombia. mserrano@incancerologia.gov.co
Romero
Alfredo
A
Cendales
Ricardo
R
Sánchez-Gómez
Myriam
M
Bravo
María Mercedes
MM
D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003105:Colombia; D005260:Female; 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*; D018307:Neoplasms, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II