title: Insulin-Like Growth Factors and Their Binding Proteins in Tumors and Ascites of Ovarian Cancer Patients: Association With Response To Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy
abstract: Purpose: Tumor cell growth and sensitivity to chemotherapy depend on many factors, among which insulin-like
  growth factors (IGFs) may play important roles. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the levels of insulin-like
  growth factors (IGFs) and IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs) in primary tumors and ascites as predictors of response
  to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in ovarian cancer (OC) patients. Materials and Methods: Tumor tissue samples and
  ascitic fluid were obtained from 59 patients with advanced OC. The levels of IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP-3, IGFBP-4 and
  PAPP-A were determined using ELISA kits. Taking into account the data on expression of these IGF-related proteins
  and outcome, logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of response to neoajuvant chemotherapy. Results:
  Human ovarian tumors expressed IGFs, IGFBP-3, IGFBP-4 and PAPP-A and these proteins were also present in ascites
  fluid and associated with its volume. IGFs and IGFBPs in ascites and soluble PAPP-A might play a key role in ovarian
  cancer progression . However, levels of proteins of the IGF system in tumors were not significant predictors of objective
  clinical response (oCR). Univariate analysis showed that the level of IGF-I in ascites was the only independent predictor
  for oCR. Conclusion: The level of IGF-I in ascites was shown to be an independent predictor of objective clinical
  response to chemotherapy for OC patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and debulking surgery.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russia. Email: bochkarevanv@oncology.tomsk.ru
authors.forename: Natalia V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Yunusova
authors.forename: Alisa B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Villert
authors.forename: Liudmila V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Spirina
authors.forename: Alena E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Frolova
authors.forename: Larisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Kolomiets
authors.forename: Irina V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Kondakova
keywords: Insulin-like growth factors; insulin-like growth factor binding proteins; ovarian cancer; ascites