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The significance of serum levels of insulin‐like growth factor‐1 in patients with prostate cancer
Author(s) -
Kurek R.,
Tunn U.W.,
Eckart O.,
Aumüller G.,
Wong J.,
Renneberg H.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
bju international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1464-410X
pISSN - 1464-4096
DOI - 10.1046/j.1464-410x.2000.00350.x
Subject(s) - medicine , prostate cancer , testosterone (patch) , endocrinology , androgen , prostate , antiandrogen , androgen suppression , insulin like growth factor , luteinizing hormone , urology , cancer , hormone , growth factor , receptor
Objectives To compare the serum levels of insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) in patients with prostate cancer and in control patients with no malignancy, and to evaluate any possible influence of testicular androgen withdrawal on the level of IGF‐1 in patients with prostate cancer. Patients and methods IGF‐1 was measured in serum samples from 238 patients using both a chemiluminescence method and a radio‐immunoassay. From a subgroup of 19 patients presenting with newly diagnosed carcinoma of the prostate, IGF‐1 and testosterone values were measured before and during the course of testicular androgen with‐drawal, achieved by the administration of luteinizing hormone‐releasing hormone (LHRH) analogues combined with anti‐androgens. Results There were no significant differences in the mean serum levels of IGF‐1 patients with and without prostate cancer (158.6 and 159.1 ng/mL, respect‐ively). There were no significant differences in mean IGF‐1 levels before and after antiandrogen therapy; the mean (median, sd , range) levels of testosterone (µg/L) and IGF‐1 (ng/mL) before androgen withdrawal were 4.81 (4.84, 1.26, 3.11–6.93) and 157.1 (152.5, 26.7, 122.8–195.1). After androgen withdrawal the corresponding values were 0.303 (0.218, 0.24, 0.13–0.81) and 169.7 (31.7, 168.6, 124.9–227.6). A linear regression analysis ( P = 0.76) and Spearman rank order correlation test (correlation coefficient –0.0613, P = 0.64) showed no association between levels of testosterone and IGF‐1. Freeze and thaw cycles applied to the samples had no effect on the IGF‐1 values measured. Conclusions There was no significant association between IGF‐1 serum levels and prostate cancer. Short‐term androgen withdrawal using LHRH anal‐ogues combined with anti‐androgens had no effect on the levels of IGF‐1.