Detection of insulin-like growth factor type I receptor in adulthood acute lymphoblastic leukemia by a real-time polymerase chain reaction

Background: Insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR) is currently the focus of intensive research aimed at developing novel antitumor agents. It plays a documented novel role in the regulation of the MDM2/p53/p21 signaling pathway during DNA damage. The IGF system plays a critical role in tumor pathogenesis, progression, protection from apoptosis, and metastasis.Objectives: To detect the expression of IGF-IR in adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in comparison with healthy controls, and to examine its prognostic impact on patients’ outcome, and its possible association with the known standard prognostic factors for ALL.Participants and methods: Real-time polymerase chain reaction was applied to assess the expression of IGF-IR in 30 newly diagnosed adult patients with ALL and in 10 age-matched healthy controls.Results: The cycle threshold of IGF-IR expression in the patient group ranged from 20.21 to 30.18 (24.82±3.38), whereas it ranged from 30.21 to 37.98 (34.74±2.94) in the control group. The IGF-IR expression level in patients was statistically significantly higher (P=0.000) than those of the control group. Statistical analysis of IGF-IR expression in relation to standard prognostic factors and patient outcome showed no significance (P 0.05).Conclusion: IGF-IR is significantly overexpressed in adult patients with ALL at diagnosis, indicating its possible role in pathogenesis. However, it is not valid as a prognostic marker in ALL. There was no significant association of IGF-IR with patient outcome. Considering its role in leukemogenesis, new therapeutic strategies directed against IGF-IR may be beneficial in arresting malignant cell proliferation and survival and blocking the progression of disease.