The potential clinical applications of insulin-like growth factor-1 ligand in human breast cancer.
Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) has become recognized as a growth factor with pro-mitogenic and antiapoptotic effects on a variety of human cells. This article reviews the potential role of IGF-1 ligand in the clinical management of breast cancer patients. Many studies have shown that IGF-1 acts synergistically with oestrogen to stimulate breast cancer cells. Case-control studies have also demonstrated that premenopausal women with high levels of serum IGF-1 have an increased risk of developing breast cancer later in life. Serum IGF-1 levels can therefore be used as a potential biomarker for predicting breast cancer risk. Furthermore, there is evidence that serum IGF-1 levels can serve as a response biomarker in chemoprevention drug trials. The role of IGF-1 expression in breast cancer tissue as a prognostic marker is not clearly established. Identifying the IGF-1 gene polymorphism can potentially be used in predicting breast cancer risk.
Chong
Y M
YM
Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, St. George's Hospital, Tooting, London, UK. kelvin.ymchong@gmail.com
Subramanian
A
A
Sharma
A K
AK
Mokbel
K
K
D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008024:Ligands; D051379:Mice; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011379:Prognosis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004967:Estrogens; D008024:Ligands; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I