Type 1 IGF Receptor Localization in Paediatric Gliomas: Significant Association with WHO Grading and Clinical Outcome

• Published in: Hormones & cancer 2018-06, Vol.9 (3), p.205-214
• Main Authors: Clément, Florencia, Martin, Ayelen, Venara, Marcela, de Luján Calcagno, Maria, Mathó, Cecilia, Maglio, Silvana, Lombardi, Mercedes García, Bergadá, Ignacio, Pennisi, Patricia A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; Adolescent; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Brain Neoplasms - diagnosis; Brain Neoplasms - metabolism; Brain Neoplasms - mortality; Cell Biology; Cell Nucleus - metabolism; Child; Child, Preschool; Cohort Studies; Endocrinology; Female; Glioma - diagnosis; Glioma - metabolism; Glioma - mortality; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Infant; Internal Medicine; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Microbiology; Neoplasm Staging; Oncology; Original Paper; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Receptor, IGF Type 1 - genetics; Receptor, IGF Type 1 - metabolism; Survival Analysis; Systems Biology; World Health Organization
• ISSN: 1868-8497; 1868-8500
• DOI: 10.1007/s12672-018-0328-7

Nuclear localization of insulin-like growth factor receptor type 1 (IGF-1R) has been described as adverse prognostic factor in some cancers. We studied the expression and localization of IGF-1R in paediatric patients with gliomas, as well as its association with World Health Organization (WHO) grading and survival. We conducted a single cohort, prospective study of paediatric patients with gliomas. Samples were taken at the time of the initial surgery; IGF-1R expression and localization were characterized by immunohistochemistry (IHC), subcellular fractionation and western blotting. Tumours (47/53) showed positive staining for IGF-1R by IHC. IGF-1R nuclear labelling was observed in 10/47 cases. IGF-1R staining was mostly non-nuclear in low-grade tumours, while IGF-1R nuclear labelling was predominant in high-grade gliomas ( p  = 0.0001). Survival was significantly longer in patients with gliomas having non-nuclear IGF-1R localization than in patients with nuclear IGF-1R tumours ( p  = 0.016). In gliomas, IGF-1R nuclear localization was significantly associated with both high-grade tumours and increased risk of death. Based on a prospective design, we provide evidence of a potential usefulness of intracellular localization of IGF-1R as prognostic factor in paediatric patients with gliomas.