title: A role for IGF-1R-targeted therapies in small-cell lung cancer?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive disease with a poor prognosis. The insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) is an autocrine growth factor and an attractive therapeutic target in many solid tumors, but particularly in lung cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study examined tumor samples from 23 patients diagnosed with SCLC, 11 resected specimens and 12 nodal biopsies obtained by mediastinoscopy, for expression of IGF-1R using the monoclonal rabbit anti-IGF-1R (clone G11, Ventana Medical Systems, Tucson, AZ) and standard immunohistochemistry (IHC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 23 tumor samples expressed IGF-1R with a range of stain intensity from weak (1+) to strong (3+). Ten tumors had a score of 3+, 7 tumors 2+, and 6 tumors 1+. Patient survival data were available for all 23 patients. Two patients died < 30 days post biopsy, therefore, the intensity of anti-IGF-1R immunostaining for 21 patients was correlated to survival. Patients with 3+ immunostaining had a poorer prognosis (P = .003). The overall survival of patients who underwent surgical resection was significantly better (median survival not reached) than patients who were not resected (median survival, 7.4 months) (P = .006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IGF-1R targeted therapies may have a role in the treatment of SCLC in combination with chemotherapy or as maintenance therapy. Further studies on the clinical benefit of targeting IGF-1R in SCLC are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, St. James Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland. kgately@stjames.ie
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gately
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Forde
authors.forename: Bassel
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Al-Alao
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gerg
authors.forename: Friedrich
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Feuerhake
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: O'Byrne
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1