Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2012) 29 S7.2

ICEECE2012 Symposia Hormones, metabolism and cancer: more than coincidences? (3 abstracts)

The insulin-like growth factor system and cancer: what are the implications?

D. LeRoith


Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.


Insulin and the IGFs, the IGFBPs and the insulin and IGF-1 receptors play an important role in cancer progression. Higher levels of circulating total IGF-1 is often associated with an increased risk of developing cancer. Furthermore, the IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) is often overexpressed in tumor tissues. This overexpression has been shown to be due to mutations in tumor suppressor genes such as p53, WT1 and BRCA genes. Inhibition of the IGF-1R in culture and preclinical studies led to the development of humanized antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors for human trials as adjunct therapy for chemotherapy. Thus far human trials have been less impressive than anticipated and suggest compensation by other tyrosine kinase receptors including the IR.

Obesity, metabolic syndrome and early type 2 diabetics have hyperinsulinemia that is associated with increased cancer risk and cancer-related mortality and studies both in mouse models and humans have suggested that hyperinsulinemia via the IR-A receptor on breast cancer is mitogenic, and suggests other therapeutic options.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.

Volume 29

15th International & 14th European Congress of Endocrinology

European Society of Endocrinology 

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