The role of insulin-like growth factor 1 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 in human esophageal cancer.

BACKGROUND Insulin-like growth factors (1GF-1) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) play important roles in cell growth and differentiation. The aim of this work was to investigate the roles of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 in esophageal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS We examined the circulating IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 concentration in 18 healthy controls and 66 esophageal cancer patients by ELISA and a ligand capture immunoassay. Immunohistochemistry for IGF-1 was performed on surgical specimens obtained from 93 patients with esophageal cancer. RESULTS The serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels were significantly elevated in patients compared with healthy subjects and there was a positive correlation between IGF-1 and IGFBP-3. There was a significant correlation between IGF-1 level and depth of invasion and pathological stage. Poor prognosis was significantly correlated with increasing IGF-1 levels. The survival rates of high IGF-1 expression immunohistochemical study patients were poorer than those of low expression patients. CONCLUSION Elevated serum IGF-1 levels may be an important predictor of risk for esophageal cancer. IGF-1 related to the progression of esophageal cancer may depend on an autocrine function of IGF-1.