IGF-I in mammary tumorigenesis and diabetes.

Abstract

Insulin growth factors (IGFs) are important mediators of growth, development, differentiation and survival of normal and transformed cells. Many complex and diverse types of molecules modulate these actions. In vitro and in vivo experiments have demonstrated that this system (IGF) is strongly related to the establishment of the transformed phenotype. Recent studies confirmed the association between serum levels of IGF-I and diverse malignant diseases while some relationships with other pathologies since Diabetes Mellitus have been described. Currently, IGFs are considered important targets for the study of new therapeutic drugs and strategies for cancer treatment. In this review, we have summarized the latest data specially linking IGF-I and its receptor with breast cancer.