Insulin-like growth factor 1 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 serum levels as potential biomarkers in differential diagnosis between chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic adenocarcinoma in reference to pancreatic diabetes

Barbara Włodarczyk; Anna Borkowska; Przemysław Włodarczyk; Ewa Małecka-Panas; Anita Gąsiorowska

doi:10.5114/pg.2020.95091

Insulin-like growth factor 1 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 serum levels as potential biomarkers in differential diagnosis between chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic adenocarcinoma in reference to pancreatic diabetes

Prz Gastroenterol. 2021;16(1):36-42. doi: 10.5114/pg.2020.95091. Epub 2020 May 9.

Authors

Barbara Włodarczyk¹, Anna Borkowska², Przemysław Włodarczyk³, Ewa Małecka-Panas¹, Anita Gąsiorowska⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Digestive Tract Diseases, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
² Department of Internal Medicine and Diabetology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
³ Faculty of Economics and Sociology, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
⁴ Clinic of Gastroenterology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.

Abstract

Introduction: Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) has been connected with development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Aim: To evaluate the serum concentration levels of IGF-1 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP-2) in patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) and PDAC. Their values in diabetes mellitus (DM) were also assessed.

Material and methods: The study included 83 patients with CP, 92 patients with PDAC, and 20 subjects as a control group. The concentrations of IGF-1 and IGFBP-2 were estimated with ELISA (Corgenix UK Ltd, R&D Systems).

Results: The IGF-1 was higher in CP compared with PDAC (81.11 ±57.18 ng/ml vs. 53.18 ±36.05 ng/ml, p < 0.001), and both CP and PDAC were different from controls (81.11 ±57.18 ng/ml vs. 70.66 ±16.57 ng/ml, p < 0.001 and 53.18 ±36.05 ng/ml vs. 70.66 ±16.57 ng/ml, p < 0.001). CP without cysts have lower IGF-1 compared to those with CP and cysts (60.35 ±34.68 ng/ml vs. 93.55 ±64.78 ng/ml, p < 0.05). IGF-1 in CP without DM was higher compared to IGF-1 in PDAC without DM (91.13 ±65.48 ng/ml vs. 54.75 ±40.41 ng/ml, p < 0.001). In CP and DM the IGF-1 was elevated in comparison to PDAC and DM (62.20 ±32.38 ng/ml vs. 48.45 ±24.88 ng/ml, p < 0.05). IGFBP-2 was higher in CP compared to PDAC (512.42 ±299.77 ng/ml vs 301.59 ±190.36 ng/ml, p < 0.001). In CP and PDAC the IGFBP-2 level was elevated compared to the control group (512.42 ±299.77 ng/ml vs. 51.92 ±29.40 ng/ml, p < 0.001 and 301.59 ±190.36 ng/ml vs. 51.92 ±29.40 ng/ml, p < 0.001). IGFBP-2 in CP without DM was higher compared to PDAC without DM (559.39 ±281.43 vs. 296.53 ±196.93, p < 0.001).

Conclusions: IGF-1 and IGFBP-2 may be biomarkers of CP and PDAC. IGF-1 may be an indicator that signals whether pancreatic diabetes is from CP or PDAC.

Keywords: chronic pancreatitis; insulin-like growth factor 1; insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2; pancreatic cancer; pancreatic diabetes.