Expression levels of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins and insulin receptor isoforms in hepatoblastomas

Hepatoblastoma, a rare pediatric liver tumour, is a poorly understood disea se. While expression studies for some members of the Insulin-like growth fa ctor axis have been studied in hepatoblastoma, a systematic analysis of the IGF-axis has not been carried out. We have examined a series of hepatoblas tomas with matched normal liver tissue for gene expression differences with emphasis on members of the insulin-like growth factor binding proteins. Th e expression profiles obtained reveal that the expression of these genes ar e altered in these tumors. The results indicate that the IGF-axis is seriou sly disturbed in the tumors. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rig hts reserved.