Serum levels of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and their binding proteins (IGFBPs), -1, -2, -3, in oral cancer

IntroductionInsulin-like growth factor (IGF) possesses mitogenic properties promoting cellular proliferation and inhibiting cellular apoptosis. Reported evidence suggests that cancer (non-oral) is associated with high circulating levels of IGF-1 and low levels of IGFBP-3.AimsThis study measured circulating levels of IFG-1 and IGFBPs -1, -2 and -3 in oral cancer patients.MethodologyBlood was collected from surgical patients and controls. Samples were assayed for IGF-1 and IGFBPs -1, -2, -3, using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbant assays (ELISA; R&D Systems Europe, Oxon, UK).ResultsTwenty-seven oral cancer and 31 age- and sex-matched patients were recruited. Mean IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels were significantly lower in cancer patients than controls (85.3 ng/ml and 2008 ng/ml versus 191 ng/ml and 2935 ng/ml, P < 0.001). In contrast, levels of IGFBPs 1 and 2 were significantly higher in cancer patients than in controls. No significant association was demonstrated with tumour size or nodal metastases.DiscussionThis study has shown that in contrast to other cancers, circulating levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 may both be lowered in patients with head and neck cancer.