Serum insulin-like growth factor-I and tumor size in patients with metastatic liver cancer

Abstract

Background and Aims: Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-1) is a liver-derived humoral factor, which has important anabolic and metabolic actions. Low serum concentrations of IGF-1 have been reported in patients with chronic liver disease, especially cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma and metastatic liver cancer. The aim of our study was to evaluate any possible relationship between intensity of liver metastases on serum IGF-1 concentrations. Methods: Serum IGF-1 were measured by ELIZA (III) in10 patients with uninodular or multinodular liver metastases and extension <= 50% (group A) and 10 patients with multinodular or massive liver metastases and extension > 50% (group B) of liver size without liver failure. Results: Serum IGF-1 concentration was significantly lower in the more sever metastatic group (group B) than the less sever metastatic group (group A) (121.40 +/- 52.08 vs. 210.30 +/- 42.59 ng/ml, respectively; P < 0.001). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the states of serum IGF-1 levels in patients with metastatic liver cancer may be a helpful finding for determining the severity of metastasis to the liver.