Plasma insulin-like growth factor 1, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3, and risk of colorectal cancer: a prospective study in northern Sweden

Gut. 2002 May;50(5):642-6. doi: 10.1136/gut.50.5.642.

Abstract

Background: Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) has antiapoptotic and mitogenic effects on various cell types, and raised IGF-1 levels are increasingly being implicated as potential risk factors for cancer.

Aims: To examine the relationship between IGF-1 and its major plasma binding protein, IGF binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3), and the risk of colorectal cancer.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study nested within the Northern Sweden Health and Disease Cohort. IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 were measured in prediagnostic plasma samples from 168 men and women who developed cancers of the colon (n=110) or rectum (n=58), and from 336 matched controls.

Results: Conditional logistic regression analyses showed an increase in colon cancer risk with increasing levels of IGF-1 (odds ratios (ORs) 1.00, 1.89, 2.30, 2.66; p(trend)=0.03) and IGFBP-3 (ORs 1.00, 0.91, 1.80, 1.93; p(trend)=0.02). Rectal cancer risk was inversely related to levels of IGF-1 (ORs 1.00, 0.45, 0.33, 0.33; p(trend)=0.09) and IGFBP-3 (ORs 1.00, 0.75, 0.66, 0.49; p(trend)=0.21). Mutual adjustments between IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 did not materially alter these relationships.

Conclusions: These results support earlier findings of increased risk of colon cancer in subjects with elevated plasma IGF-1. Our results however do not support the hypothesis that the risk of rectal cancer could also be directly related to IGF-1 levels.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anthropometry
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Colonic Neoplasms / blood*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / blood*
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / analysis*
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Proteins / blood*
  • Odds Ratio
  • Prospective Studies
  • Rectal Neoplasms / blood*
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I