Insulin is one of the major metabolic hormones regulating glucose homeostasis in the organism and a key growth factor for normal and neoplastic cells. Work conducted primarily over the past 3 decades has unravelled the presence of insulin in human breast cancer tissues and, more recently, in human non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC). These findings have suggested that intracellular insulin is involved in the development of these highly prevalent human tumors. A potential mechanism for such involvement is insulin's binding and inactivation of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein (RB) which in turn is likely controlled by insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE). This model and its supporting data are collectively covered in this survey in order to provide further insight into insulin-driven oncogenesis and its reversal through future anticancer therapeutics. © 2011 Radulescu; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
CITATION STYLE
Radulescu, R. T. (2011). Intracellular insulin in human tumors: Examples and implications. Diabetology and Metabolic Syndrome. https://doi.org/10.1186/1758-5996-3-5
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