Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells
06:54

Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells

Published on: October 27, 2020

Evidence for a tumour suppressive function of IGF1-binding proteins in human breast cancer

A Subramanian1, A K Sharma, D Banerjee

  • 1St. George's-University of London, Blackshaw Road, Tooting, London, UK.

Anticancer Research
|November 2, 2007
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins (IGFBP)-1, -3, and -7 mRNA expression is lower in malignant breast tissue compared to normal tissue. These findings suggest IGFBP-1, -3, and -7 may act as tumor suppressor genes in breast cancer.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system plays a known role in human malignancies.
  • Understanding the expression of IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) in breast cancer is crucial for identifying potential therapeutic targets.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify mRNA expression levels of IGFBP-1, IGFBP-3, and IGFBP-7 in benign and malignant breast tissues.
  • To investigate the correlation between IGFBP mRNA expression and key prognostic indicators in breast cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Real-time quantitative PCR (Q-PCR) was used to analyze IGFBP-1, -3, and -7 mRNA levels in 127 breast cancer tissues and 33 normal tissues.
  • mRNA expression data were statistically analyzed against tumor grade, nodal status, Nottingham prognostic index (NPI), and TNM staging.

Main Results:

  • IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3 mRNA expression was significantly higher in normal breast tissue compared to malignant tissue.
  • Lower IGFBP-1 mRNA levels correlated with advanced NPI and TNM stages (3 and 4).
  • IGFBP-7 mRNA expression was significantly higher in early TNM stages (1 and 2) compared to stage 3.

Conclusions:

  • The study supports the hypothesis that IGFBP-1, IGFBP-3, and IGFBP-7 function as tumor suppressor genes in human breast cancer.
  • Altered expression patterns of these IGFBPs may serve as biomarkers for breast cancer progression.

More Related Videos

Spheroid Assay to Measure TGF-β-induced Invasion09:18

Spheroid Assay to Measure TGF-β-induced Invasion

Published on: November 16, 2011

Related Concept Videos

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the daughter...
Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions01:12

Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions

Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
When the tumor suppressor genes develop mutations or are lost, cells start growing out of control, leading to cancer. However, a single functional copy of the tumor suppressor gene is enough for the cells to maintain their normal functions and cell...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
TGF - β Signaling Pathway01:16

TGF - β Signaling Pathway

The TGF-β signaling pathway regulates cell growth, differentiation, adhesion, motility, and development. TGF-β ligands that induce TGF-β signaling are synthesized in their latent form. Several proteases or cell surface receptors such as integrins act upon the latent form, releasing the active ligand. There are three types of mammalian TGF-βs: (TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3) that bind as homodimers or heterodimers to TGF-β receptors. The TGF-β receptors are of three kinds RI, RII, and RIII. The RI...
Inhibition of Cdk Activity02:34

Inhibition of Cdk Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...