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The expression of insulin‐like growth factor and its binding protein mRNA in the endometrium of postmenopausal patients with breast cancer receiving tamoxifen
Author(s) -
Laatikainen Timo J.,
Tomás Eija I.,
Voutilainen Raimo J.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19951015)76:8<1406::aid-cncr2820760816>3.0.co;2-k
Subject(s) - tamoxifen , endometrium , insulin like growth factor , medicine , endocrinology , estrogen , messenger rna , antiestrogen , endometrial cancer , insulin like growth factor binding protein , breast cancer , growth factor , cancer , biology , receptor , gene , biochemistry
Background . Insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I) is known to mediate estrogen effect in the uterus, whereas IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs) modulate the biologic effects of IGF‐I. Tamoxifen may act via the IGF‐IGFBP system in the postmenopausal endometrium. Methods . Endometrial samples were collected from 16 postmenopausal women with breast cancer of whom 9 received tamoxifen and the remaining 7 received no hormonal treatment. The expression of messenger RNA for IGF‐I, IGF‐II, and the IGFBPs 1–6 was studied using dot blot and Northern blot techniques. Results . Expression of mRNA for IGF‐I, IGFBP‐2, ‐3, ‐4, and ‐6 was present in endometrial specimens. The expression of IGF‐I mRNA was similar in the Tamoxifen‐treated and control patients, whereas mRNA expression for IGF‐II was not detected. The expression of IGFBP‐2 and ‐4 mRNA predominated in the endometrium of patients who received tamoxifen. Conclusions . These findings demonstrate that the IGF‐IGFBP system is present in the postmenopausal endometrium and may be modulated by tamoxifen.