Increased Igf-I/Igfbp-3 Ratios in Postmenopausal Taiwanese with Breast Cancer, Irrespective of Er and Pr Statuses and Her2 Expression in a Case-Control Study.

Background: In most research, there were positive associations between the insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) status, including IGF-I, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), and ratio of IGF-I/IGFBP-3, and risks of breast cancer (BC), which was influenced by many factors, including hormone statuses and ethnicity. Therefore, the alterations of the IGF-I status in Taiwanese women with BC by menopausal statuses and hormone receptors were investigated.

Methods: The levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were determined by the enzyme-labeled chemiluminescent immunometric assay, and the protein expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) on paraffin-embedded sections of tissues with BC were analyzed by the immunohistochemical method.