Biology of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-4 and its role in cancer (review)

  • Authors:
    • Rajaraman Durai
    • Mark Davies
    • Wenxuan Yang
    • Shi Yu Yang
    • Alexander Seifalian
    • Geoffrey Goldspink
    • Marc Winslet
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: June 1, 2006     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.28.6.1317
  • Pages: 1317-1325
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Abstract

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-4 (IGFBP-4) is an important member of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system. The IGFBP-4 has three domains of which the N-terminal sequence is important for the binding of IGF. It acts as a transport protein for IGF-I and IGF-II and modulates their biological effects. There is increasing evidence that IGFBP-4 inhibits IGF-induced cellular growth both in vitro and in vivo. IGFBP-4 can also mediate its actions through a mechanism independent of IGFs. IGFBP-4 level and expression in various tissues are influenced by IGFBP protease, nutrition, several growth factors and hormones. Overexpression of IGFBP-4 in transgenic animal models causes reduced growth of organs containing smooth muscle. Most cancers express IGFBP-4 at levels which correlate with their state of differentiation. However, the effects of IGFBP-4 on tumor growth are uncertain. In vitro studies have shown that overexpression of IGFBP-4 inhibit the growth of some colon cancer cells. Overexpression of IGFBP-4 in vivo has been reported to decrease the growth of prostate cancer. The effect of altered expression of IGFBP-4 in vivo in colon and other cancers needs to be explored as locally available IGFs appear to stimulate mitogenesis.

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June 2006
Volume 28 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

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Spandidos Publications style
Durai R, Davies M, Yang W, Yang SY, Seifalian A, Goldspink G and Winslet M: Biology of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-4 and its role in cancer (review). Int J Oncol 28: 1317-1325, 2006
APA
Durai, R., Davies, M., Yang, W., Yang, S.Y., Seifalian, A., Goldspink, G., & Winslet, M. (2006). Biology of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-4 and its role in cancer (review). International Journal of Oncology, 28, 1317-1325. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.28.6.1317
MLA
Durai, R., Davies, M., Yang, W., Yang, S. Y., Seifalian, A., Goldspink, G., Winslet, M."Biology of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-4 and its role in cancer (review)". International Journal of Oncology 28.6 (2006): 1317-1325.
Chicago
Durai, R., Davies, M., Yang, W., Yang, S. Y., Seifalian, A., Goldspink, G., Winslet, M."Biology of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-4 and its role in cancer (review)". International Journal of Oncology 28, no. 6 (2006): 1317-1325. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.28.6.1317