IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP2, IGFBP3 and acid-labile subunit (ALS) in colorectal cancer patients before surgery and during one year follow up in relation to age.

PURPOSE To investigate the changes of IGF system in colon cancer patients in relation to age, the serum IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP2, IGFBP3 and ALS were measured by immunochemistry before surgery, as well as one and six months after surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS One hundred and twenty six patients were included into the study: group I (<50 yrs, N=21); group II (50 to <55 yrs, N=16) ; group III (55 to <65 yrs, N=34); group IV (65 to <75 yrs, N=42) and group V (> or =75 yrs, N=13). RESULTS Before surgery: only the mean value of IGF-I concentration in group I was significantly higher as compared to group V (p<0.01). One month after surgery: 1) a decrease in the mean values of IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP3 and ALS levels was observed, but only for IGF-II (groups II-V), IGFBP3 (groups II-V) and ALS (groups III-V) the changes were significant; 2) the mean value of ALS level in group I was higher as compared to group III-V (p<0.05 to 0.02); 3) higher mean values of IGF-I/alb, IGFBP3/alb and ALS/alb were noted for group I as compared to group V (p<0.01 to 0.001); 4) the mean levels of IGFBP2 were significantly lower in group I as compared to groups II, III, IV and V (p<0.001 in all cases). CONCLUSIONS In colon cancer patients IGF-I, IGFBP3 and ALS decrease with age, but the relation between them exists regardless the patient's age and time of observation. Lower IGFBP2 level together with higher IGF-I might contribute to more aggressive course of disease in colon cancer patients below 50 years of age.