title: Insulin-like growth factor-1 as a predictive biomarker for metastatic uveal melanoma in humans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  High expression levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) receptor were associated with metastatic uveal melanoma (UM). The purpose of this study was to examine the potential of serum IGF-1 in early detection of liver metastasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  IGF-1 serum levels were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for 118 subjects in three different groups: 55 disease-free (DF) UM patients who did not develop metastasis within 10 years of diagnosis; 22 metastatic patients; and 41 healthy subjects. Matched pairs univariate analysis was performed for sera of 19 metastatic patients 12 and 6 months before the diagnosis of metastasis and on the day of diagnosis, both as time groups and normalized levels per patient. IGF-1 levels were compared among groups by analysis of variance and Student t-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean ± SD IGF-1 serum levels for the control, DF, and metastatic groups were 152.48 ± 49.76, 119.92 ± 60.66, and 96.99 ± 56.91 ng/mL, respectively (P < 0.001). Normalized changes in IGF-1 per metastatic patient from 6 months prior to the diagnosis of metastases compared to the day of diagnosis of metastases showed a decreasing trend.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IGF-1 levels in 10-years' disease-free UM patients were significantly lower than those in healthy subjects and were even lower in metastatic patients. IGF-1 levels decreased toward the diagnosis of metastases. Therefore, serum IGF-1 level may be used as a predictive biomarker for metastatic UM when measured repeatedly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. shahar.frenkel@gmail.com
authors.forename: Shahar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frenkel
authors.forename: Ofira
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Zloto
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pe'er
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Barak
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary; D008545:Melanoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary; D000098943:Uveal Melanoma
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I