Endocrine Abstracts

Raised levels of IGF-I have been associated with risk of developing several cancers including breast carcinoma. In addition to promoting mitogenesis in breast cancer cells, a number of observations suggest a role for inhibition of apoptosis by IGF-I receptor activation. Ligand binding to IGF-IR leads to activation of both the phosphoinositide-3'-kinase (PI3K) and the Ras/Raf/MAPKinase pathways. Deprivation of serum growth factors induces apoptosis in MCF-7 breast cancer cells ...

Prostate and breast cancers remain common causes of cancer related deaths in the UK. The majority of cases appear to be of a multifactorial aetiology that includes a genetic component. It has been suggested that low levels of circulating 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 are associated with an increased risk of both breast and prostate cancer. A number of polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene have been identified resulting in differing genotypes that may alter s...