Plasma insulin-like growth factor-1 and serum IGF-binding protein 3 can beassociated with the progression of breast cancer, and predict the risk of recurrence and the probability of survival in African-American and Hispanicwomen
Jv. Vadgama et al., Plasma insulin-like growth factor-1 and serum IGF-binding protein 3 can beassociated with the progression of breast cancer, and predict the risk of recurrence and the probability of survival in African-American and Hispanicwomen, ONCOL-BASEL, 57(4), 1999, pp. 330-340
In vitro studies have shown that insulin-like growth factor (IGF) is a mito
gen for breast cancer cells. However, the associations of plasma IGF-I with
tumor histopathology in high-risk groups need further investigation. We hy
pothesize that plasma IGF-I and serum IGFBP3 concentrations in breast cance
r patients may provide useful information on the progression of their disea
se, and determine the probability of recurrence and survival. We have carri
ed out a retrospective study on 130 minority breast cancer patients. Plasma
IGF-I and serum IGFBP3 were correlated with tumor histopathology, menopaus
al status, treatment modality, recurrence rates, and probability of surviva
l. Plasma IGF-I and serum IGFBP3 were measured by radioimmunoassay. Our stu
dies show that breast cancer patients have elevated plasma IGF-I and serum
IGFBP3 levels. In addition we observed the following: IGF-I did not correla
te with age and nodal stage. IGF-I and IGFBP3 increased with tumor size (T4
). IGF-I did not correlate with estrogen receptor status, but did increase
in progesterone-receptor-positive patients. IGF-I levels were higher in pre
menopausal patients and in women with cancer recurrence. Tamoxifen reduced
IGF-I levels significantly and reduced the risk of recurrence. The survival
probability was greater in patients with plasma IGF-I levels <120 ng/ml. i
n conclusion, lowering of plasma IGF-I may offer the following benefits: (a
) reduce the risk of developing breast cancer in high-risk groups; (b) slow
the progression of breast cancer in patients at early stages of cancer; (c
) lower the risk of recurrence, and (d) increase the probability of surviva
l. Copyright (C) 1999 S. Karger AG, Basel.