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Evidence for an Increased Somatomedin-C/Insulin-like Growth Factor I Content in Primary Human Lung Tumors¹

Cattedra di Endocrinologia—Istituto Scientifico di Medicina Interna [F. M., P. D. M., A. B., P. F., G. C., G. G.], and Istituto di Clinica Chirurgica, University of Genova [G. Cat.], Viale Benedetto XV 6, 16132 Genova, Italy

Immunoreactive somatomedin-C/insulin-like growth factor I (SM-C/IGF I) content was measured in human neoplastic lung tissue obtained from surgery on 10 patients (seven epidermoid carcinoma, three adenocarcinoma), and in normal lung tissue obtained from the same excised portion. SM-C/IGF I content in lung tumors was 615 ± 123 (SE) milliunits/g of tissue (range, 214–1531), significantly higher (P < 0.01) than normal tissue (234 ± 51 milliunits/g of tissue; range, 37–537); in particular, every subject showed a clear-cut difference of SM-C/IGF I content between neoplastic and normal tissue (ratio, 3.41 ± 0.69; range, 1.4–7.2). The results were essentially unchanged when data were expressed relative to hemoglobin or DNA tissue content. By contrast, in peripheral plasma SM-C/IGF I concentration was 0.51 ± 0.17 units/ml, significantly lower (P < 0.01) than in 59- to 70-yr-old control subjects (1.10 ± 0.13 units/ml). In conclusion, the lung tumors studied, irrespective of their histological structure, contain more SM-C/IGF I than does normal tissue. Whether this is due to a primary in situ production of SM-C/IGF I or is secondary to overproduction of other inducers such as platelet derived growth factor-like peptides is yet to be clarified. The reduced circulating SM-C/IGF I concentration seems to be related more to the nutritional status of the patients.

¹ Supported by Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Research Grant 112.CT/82.02445.04/115.05482 and by Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Research Grant 84.00680.44/115.18502 under special project "Oncology."

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at Cattedra di Endocrinologia, Istituto Scientifico di Medicina Interna, Viale Benedetto XV 6, I 16132 Genova, ITALY.

Received 6/17/85. Revised 10/15/85. Accepted 10/16/85.

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