title: Will targeting insulin growth factor help us or hurt us?: An oncologist's perspective.
abstract: The insulin/insulin growth factor (IGF) pathway is a critical mediator of longevity and aging. Efforts to extend longevity by altering the insulin/IGF pathway may have varying effects on other physiological processes. Reduced insulin/IGF levels may decrease the incidence of certain cancers as well as the risk of developing metastatic disease. However, it may also increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease as well as cardiovascular related mortality. Pursuing the right insulin/IGF pathway targets will require striking a balance between inhibiting cancer cell development and progression and avoiding damage to tissues under normal insulin/IGF-mediated control. This review will discuss the roles of the insulin/IGF pathway in aging and longevity and the development of cancer cell metastasis and considerations in taking insulin/IGF directed targets to the oncology clinic.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Radiation Oncology Section, Radiation Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States.
authors.forename: Mitchell
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamrava
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gius
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Casagrande
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kohn
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000502:physiology*; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1; D013002:Somatomedins