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Updated: Jul 16, 2026
An Orthotopic Murine Model of Human Prostate Cancer Metastasis
Published on: September 18, 2013
Expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor in local and metastatic prostate cancer
Charles J Ryan1, Christopher M Haqq, Jeffrey Simko
1Department of Medicine, UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA. ryanc@medicine.ucsf.edu <ryanc@medicine.ucsf.edu>
Purpose:
The insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 receptor is currently being targeted in clinical trials in prostate cancer. Despite this targeting, there are conflicting data on the presence of this receptor in human tumor samples, largely because of differences in technique.
Materials And Methods:
Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the presence of IGF-1 receptor in frozen normal prostate and prostate cancer specimens. Clinical and pathologic parameters were correlated with IGF-1 receptor intensity and frequency of staining. Only 2-3+ staining on a scale of 0-3 was considered positive in this evaluation.
Results:
IGF-1 receptor was expressed in normal prostate epithelium in 6 of 6 patients without cancer and in morphologically normal epithelium adjacent to tumor cells in 21 of 22 patients with cancer studied. IGF-1 receptor was present in the prostate tumor epithelium of 28 of 28 primary tumors, 3 of 5 locally recurrent androgen-independent tumors, and in 4 of 5 metastatic lymph nodes. Stromal staining patterns were positive in 2 of 28 specimens near benign epithelium compared to 19 of 30 specimens of stroma surrounding tumor epithelium (P < 0.0001, Fisher exact test). Stroma adjacent to Gleason grade >or=7 tumors showed higher intensity staining than that adjacent to lower grade tumors (P < 0.001). Expression of the closely related insulin receptor did not show expression in either normal or cancer epithelium, or in adjacent stroma.
Conclusions:
This study using frozen tissue shows widespread IGF-1 receptor expression in normal prostate, prostate cancers, and metastases. These data support investigations into IGF-1 receptor as a therapeutic target in prostate cancer.
Insights
Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 receptor is widely expressed in normal prostate tissue, prostate cancers, and metastases. These findings support targeting the IGF-1 receptor for prostate cancer therapy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Urology
Background:
- The insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 receptor is a target in prostate cancer clinical trials.
- Conflicting data exist regarding IGF-1 receptor presence in human prostate tumors due to technical variations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the presence and pattern of IGF-1 receptor expression in normal prostate tissue, primary prostate tumors, and metastatic prostate cancer.
- To correlate IGF-1 receptor expression with clinical and pathological parameters.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry was employed to analyze frozen prostate specimens.
- IGF-1 receptor expression was quantified on a scale of 0-3, with 2-3+ considered positive.
- Correlation analysis was performed between receptor staining and clinicopathological features.
Main Results:
- IGF-1 receptor was detected in normal prostate epithelium (6/6 patients) and adjacent normal epithelium (21/22 patients).
- Expression was confirmed in primary tumors (28/28), androgen-independent recurrent tumors (3/5), and lymph node metastases (4/5).
- Stromal staining surrounding tumor epithelium was significantly higher than near benign epithelium (P < 0.0001) and correlated with Gleason grade.
Conclusions:
- This study demonstrates widespread IGF-1 receptor expression in normal prostate, prostate cancer, and metastases using frozen tissue.
- The findings support the investigation of IGF-1 receptor as a viable therapeutic target for prostate cancer.
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