Background/aim: The clinicopathological significance and prognostic value of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 1 (IGFBP1) in gastric cancer have not been investigated to date. This study aimed to investigate the relationship of IGFBP1 expression with clinicopathological variables and prognosis.
Materials and methods: The correlation of IGFBP1 expression with the clinicopathological factors and the correlation of clinicopathogical factors with haematogenous metastasis in 219 gastric cancer patients who underwent surgery was examined.
Results: High IGFBP1 expression was significantly associated with a poorer disease-specific survival (p<0.001) and relapse-free survival (p<0.001) in univariable analysis although IGFBP1 was not an independent prognostic factor. High IGFBP1 expression was the only independent risk factor of haematogenous metastasis.
Conclusion: High IGFBP1 expression was associated with haematogenous metastasis and poor survival. IGFBP1 might become a new prognostic factor and a target of molecular targeted therapy of gastric cancer.
Keywords: Gastric cancer; IGFBP1; angiogenesis; hematogenous metastasis; immunohistochemistry; tumour progression.
Copyright© 2019, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.