Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 23, 2026

Molecular Profiling of the Invasive Tumor Microenvironment in a 3-Dimensional Model of Colorectal Cancer Cells and Ex vivo Fibroblasts
Published on: April 29, 2014
Clinical significance of serum IGFBP-3 in colorectal cancer
Yu-Lei Hou1, Peng Luo1, Guang-Yan Ji2
1Clinical Laboratories, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Background:
IGF-binding protein 3(IGFBP-3)has previously been identified as tumor marker. The present study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of serum IGFBP-3 in colorectal cancer (CRC).
Methods:
Serum was collected from 70 CRC patients and 50 healthy volunteer controls. Serum IGFBP-3 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were measured using electrogenerated chemiluminescence immunoassay and compared between groups. Relationships between serum IGFBP-3 level and the clinical characteristics of CRC were also analyzed. A receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to investigate diagnostic efficacy of serum IGFBP-3 and CEA, respectively, for CRC. Data were analyzed using SPSS 13.0.
Results:
Serum IGFBP-3 levels in CRC were lower than those of controls (4.68 [3.56, 5.77] vs 5.44 [4.77, 6.10] µg/mL, P < 0.05). Furthermore, serum IGFBP-3 levels were higher in early cancer stages (I and II) than those of advanced stages (III and IV) (4.78 [3.92, 5.49] vs 3.77 [2.65, 4.59] µg/mL, P < 0.05). In addition, patients with lymph node metastasis absent had elevated serum IGFBP-3 levels than those of patients with lymph node metastasis present (4.73 [3.92, 5.72] vs 4.11 [2.45, 4.83] µg/mL, P = 0.02). Finally, ROC curve indicated that serum IGFBP-3 had a better diagnostic power for CRC than CEA. When serum IGFBP-3 and carcinoembryonic antigen were used together to detect CRC, the AUC was 0.949, with a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 90%.
Conclusions:
Serum IGFBP-3 might be a potential biomarker for CRC.
Related Concept Videos
Statistical Significance
Cholesterol: Significance and Regulation
Considering cholesterol and...
The Significance of Membrane Transport
Transporters facilitate either an active or passive movement of solutes. They can allow a single-molecule transport down its...
Significance of Center of Mass
Significance Testing: Overview
Significance of Displacement Current

