Role of insulin-like growth factor-1 in colon cancerogenesis: a case-control study.
BACKGROUND
Our aim was to establish whether individuals who developed colon cancer have elevated blood levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1).


METHODS
This was a case/control study in which 52 patients with colon cancer and a corresponding control group were investigated. Data on age, weight, height, and sex of subjects were recorded and levels of IGF-1 and growth hormone, as well as insulin and C-peptide levels, were measured in the morning before eating, 90 min after breakfast and again 90 min after lunch.


RESULTS
We found significantly higher levels of IGF-1 in blood of colon cancer patients compared to the control group. No differences in the levels of growth hormone, insulin and C-peptide in blood were found between colon cancer patients and the control group. It was found that the increase of IGF-1 level was followed by a 3.15-fold increased risk for developing colon cancer. There were no differences in the levels of IGF-1 in blood in all three measurements in the group of colon cancer patients, whereas differences were found in the control group. We found differences in the levels of insulin and C-peptide in blood in all three measurements in both groups of patients. No differences were found in the levels of growth hormone in blood in all three measurements in both groups of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest a positive correlation between the increased levels of IGF-1 and colon cancer and are thus consistent with the hypothesis that the level of IGF-1 plays an important role in the development of colon cancer.
Tripkovic
Ingrid
I
Department of Epidemiology, Teaching Institute of Public Health of Split and Dalmatia Country, Split, Croatia. ingrid_tripkovic@net.hr
Tripkovic
Andro
A
Strnad
Marija
M
Capkun
Vesna
V
Zekan
Ljubinka
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
D002096:C-Peptide; D007328:Insulin; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I