Absence or low IGF-1R-expression in esophageal adenocarcinoma is associated with tumor invasiveness and radicality of surgical resection

Abstract

Background and Objectives Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) incidence increases, maybe due to increasing prevalences of obesity and diabetes. Concurrent hyperinsulinemia might promote carcinogenesis via the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-1R). Expression of the IGF-1R was studied in correlation with diabetes and prognostic parameters. Methods Patients with EAC undergoing esophagectomy were prospectively selected. From resected tumors a tissue microarray was constructed. Immunohistochemistry evaluated IGF-1R-expression. Logistic-, cox regression models and survival analyses assessed if diabetes and IGF-1R-expression were associated with prognostic parameters. IGF-1R-expression in normal and Barrett tissues was studied. Results Absence or low IGF-1R-expression was associated with T3-, grade 3 tumors and R1 resections (P = 0.001, P = 0.025, P