Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) in primary and metastatic undifferentiated carcinoma of the head and neck: a possible target of immunotherapy.

Background: Insulin-like growth-factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) plays a key role in the development of cancer and is important for the regulation of tissue growth, predominantly via the growth hormone (GH). Targeting IGF-1R is a current topic of cancer research. The aim of this study was to identify IGF-1R in undifferentiated carcinomas of the head and neck.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-one formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded specimens from 20 patients with undifferentiated carcinomas were investigated. IGF-1R was detected immunohistochemically. In some cases, the infection status for Einstein Barr virus (EBV, DNA) or HPV (RNA) was known.

Results: IGF-1R was detected in all tumours, regardless of differentiation or proof of EBV or HPV integration into the genome.

Discussion: This study revealed a broad expression of IGF-1R in undifferentiated carcinomas of the oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal region, both in primaries and regional lymph nodes. These results suggest that IGF-1R expression in these tumours is capable of transmitting mitogenic signals to the neoplastic cells. The presence of IGF-1R in undifferentiated carcinomas suggests that these tumours can respond to IGF. Targeting this receptor may be a promising tool for the treatment of advanced stage NPC.