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R Vigneri

Publications and source records attributed to R Vigneri.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Insulin receptor expression and function in human breast cancer cell lines.

We have previously reported that insulin receptor expression is increased in human breast cancer specimens (V. Papa et al., J. Clin. Invest., 85:1503-1510, 1990). In the present study, in order to further understand the role of the insulin receptor in breast cancer, insulin receptor expression and function were characterized in three human breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7, ZR-75-1, and T-47D, and compared to a nonmalignant human breast epithelial cell line, 184B5. Insulin receptor content, measured by radioimmunoassay, was elevated 5- and 3-fold in MCF-7 and ZR-75-1 breast cancer cell lines, respectively, when compared to the nonmalignant cell line 184B5. In contrast, the insulin receptor content of T-47D cells was not increased. The increase in insulin receptor content in MCF-7 and ZR-75-1 cells was not due to amplification of the insulin receptor gene. Also, total insulin receptor mRNA content was not increased in breast cancer cells in respect to nonmalignantly transformed 184B5 breast epithelial cells. However, significant differences in the content of receptor mRNA species were observed. The insulin receptors in the breast cancer cell lines were functional: (a) In all 4 cell lines, high-affinity insulin-binding sites were detected, and, in concert with the insulin receptor radioimmunoassay data, binding capacity was highest in MCF-7 and then in ZR-75-1 cells. (b) In all cell lines, insulin stimulated insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity. However, the effect of insulin was greater in breast cancer cell lines than in nonmalignant breast cells. (c) In all cell lines, insulin at concentrations of 1 nM or less stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation. This effect of insulin was inhibited by 50% in MCF-7 cells and by 60% in 184B5 cells when alpha-IR3, a monoclonal antibody to the insulin-like growth factor I receptor, was present. In these cells, therefore, insulin was active via both its own receptor and the IGF-I receptor. In contrast, alpha-IR3 antibody was without effect in T-47D and ZR-75-1 cells, suggesting that in these cell lines insulin acted only via its receptor. In the breast cancer cells, MA-5, an agonist monoclonal antibody to the insulin receptor, stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation. This present study indicates therefore that in breast cancer cell lines there are functional insulin receptors that regulate breast cancer cell growth.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1992

Effect of TSH in human thyroid cells: evidence for both mitogenic and antimitogenic effects.

The well-known mitogenic effects of TSH observed in vivo on the thyroid are not always reproducible of human thyroid cells in vitro where conflicting results have been obtained. In order to clarify this issue, we have used primary cultures of human thyroid cells obtained from normal tissue and maintained in serum-free medium for several days. In this in vitro model we have studied the effect of TSH on growth by measuring three different parameters: [3H]-thymidine incorporation, cell counts, and DNA measurement. Monolayer cultures were plated at both low and high cell density (2 x 10(4) and 8 x 10(4) cells/25 mm well, respectively). Although at either cell density cultures were equally able to functionally respond to TSH in terms of cAMP accumulation a significant growth response to TSH was observed only in low density cultures. In high density cultures TSH had an antimitogenic effect. Moreover, TSH potentiated the mitogenic effect of insulin only in low density cultures. In contrast to TSH, FCS induced a similar proliferative response at both high and low cell density. Following TSH stimulation, cAMP content was always increased, paralleling the effect of growth in low density but not in high density cultures. The cAMP analogues dibutyryl-cAMP and 8-bromo-cAMP, as well as cholera toxin and forskolin, did not mimic the mitogenic effect of TSH but had an antiproliferative effect. In addition, these agents blunted the proliferative effect of insulin. These data suggest that in thyroid cells TSH is able to elicit both a mitogenic and an antimitogenic effect depending on the environmental conditions such as cell density.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cell Count↗
PubMed1992

Progestin regulation of insulin and insulin-like growth factor I receptors in cultured human breast cancer cells.

Recent studies indicate that the insulin receptor (IR) content is higher in breast cancer cells than in normal mammary epithelial cells. This observation has been made both in tissue specimens from patients with breast cancer, and in various human cultured breast cancer cell lines. Investigations have now been undertaken to understand the role of progestins in the regulation of the IR and the closely related insulin like growth factors-I receptor (IGF-I-R). Pretreatment of T-47D cultured human breast cancer cell lines with progestins induced a time and dose dependent increase in IR content. This increase was due primarily to an effect of progestins to increase IR mRNA levels. Other steroid hormones including glucocortocoids, estrogen, and testosterone were without effect. In contrast to their up-regulation of the IR, progestins down-regulated the IGF-I-R at the level of mRNA. An analysis of the processes involved revealed that progestins increased the biosynthesis of a ligand for IGF-I receptor, IGF-II. IGF-II in turn down-regulated the IGF-I-R. Thus these studies indicate that progestins have important effects on both the IR and the IGF-I-R. The effects of progestins on these and other growth factor receptors, therefore, may have an important role in the biology of breast cancers.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1992

Cancer risk in patients with cold thyroid nodules: relevance of iodine intake, sex, age, and multinodularity.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the frequency of thyroid cancer in patients with cold thyroid nodules in relation to iodine intake, sex, age, and multinodularity in a consecutive series of patients with nodular thyroid diseases. PATIENTS: In the period from 1980 to 1990, 5,637 patients were studied: 4,176 patients were from an iodine-sufficient area (ISA) and 1,461 from an adjacent iodine-deficient area (IDA). Surgery was performed in 792 patients on the basis of a suspicious or malignant finding at fine-needle aspiration biopsy. RESULTS: The overall thyroid cancer frequency was 4.6% (259 patients had cancer). Iodine intake affected the cancer rate in patients with cold nodules. The frequency of cancer in patients with cold thyroid nodules was 5.3% in the ISA and 2.7% in the IDA. This difference, however, was significant only in females. Sex had a major influence on the malignant rate of cold nodules; although female patients were more frequently observed (n = 5,028) than male patients (n = 609), the frequency of cancer was significantly lower in female patients with cold nodules (4.2%) than in males (8.2%). Age was an important factor in both sexes. The proportion of nodules that were malignant was smallest in patients of the 4th decade and was greatest in patients younger than 30 years or older than 60 years. Multivariate analysis showed that sex and age interact in determining the cancer risk in patients with thyroid nodules. Finally, the frequency of thyroid cancer in patients with a solitary nodule was not different from the frequency in patients with multiple nodules. CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that thyroid cancer risk in a patient with a nodular goiter varies markedly according to iodine intake, sex, and age but not in relation to multinodularity, as assessed by clinical examination. The knowledge of these epidemiologic aspects of thyroid cancer may increase the accuracy of the preoperative selection of patients with cold nodules of the thyroid.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

High-affinity insulin binding to an atypical insulin-like growth factor-I receptor in human breast cancer cells.

We studied the nature of insulin receptor binding in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. In both intact cells and solubilized receptor preparations, high-affinity insulin binding was seen. However, unlabeled insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) was five-fold more potent in inhibiting 125I-insulin binding than insulin itself. With monoclonal antibodies to the insulin receptor, 30% of 125I-insulin binding was inhibited. In contrast when alpha-IR3, a monoclonal antibody that recognizes typical IGF-I receptor, was employed over 60% of 125I-insulin binding was inhibited. The B29-MAB-125I-insulin photoprobe was then cross-linked to MCF-7 membranes. Cross-linking was inhibited by both unlabeled insulin and IGF-I. Further, the B29-MAB-125I-insulin photoprobe cross-linked to MCF-7 membranes was strongly immunoprecipitated by alpha-IR3. Employing sequential affinity chromatography with insulin-Affi-gel followed by insulin receptor monoclonal antibody agarose, atypical insulin binding activity was separated from insulin receptor binding activity. This atypical receptor had intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity. Both insulin and IGF-I stimulated the phosphorylation of the receptor's beta subunit. In MCF-7 cells both IGF-I and insulin stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation; alpha-IR3 blocked all of the IGF-I effect but only 50-60% of the insulin effect. This study demonstrates in MCF-7 cells that, in addition to typical insulin and IGF-I receptors, there is another receptor that binds both insulin and IGF-I with high affinity.

Affinity Labels↗
PubMed1992

Glyburide and tolbutamide induce desensitization of insulin release in rat pancreatic islets by different mechanisms.

Insulin secretion was studied in rat pancreatic islets after 24-h exposure to various glyburide or tolbutamide concentrations. Glucose-induced insulin release was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in islets cultured with 0.1 microM glyburide or 100 microM tolbutamide (2098 +/- 187, 832 +/- 93, and 989 +/- 88 pg/islet.h in control, glyburide-exposed, and tolbutamide-exposed islets, respectively). When glyburide-treated islets were stimulated with glyburide or tolbutamide, insulin release was also impaired compared to that in control islets (P < 0.05). In contrast, tolbutamide-exposed islets showed an impaired response to tolbutamide, but a normal response to glyburide. To investigate the mechanism of the sulfonylurea-induced impairment of insulin secretion, we measured insulin release and Rb+ efflux (a marker of the K+ channel activity) in a perifusion system and islet Ca2+ uptake under static conditions. Insulin release in response to 16.7 mM glucose increased in control islets from 9.4 +/- 1.1 to 131 +/- 19 pg/islet.min (first phase secretion peak). Simultaneously, the fractional 86Rb+ efflux declined from 0.015 +/- 0.002% to 0.006 +/- 0.001% (change in decrement, -63.5%). Glucose-induced insulin release in glyburide- and tolbutamide-treated islets was significantly reduced (first phase peak, 22.1 +/- 5 and 39.7 +/- 8 pg/islet.min, respectively; P < 0.05), and the fractional 86Rb+ efflux decrement was -21 +/- 6% for glyburide (P < 0.005 vs. control islets) and -65 +/- 4% (not different from control) for tolbutamide. When glyburide- or tolbutamide-exposed islets were stimulated with the corresponding sulfonylurea, insulin release was impaired compared to that in control islets (P < 0.05), but, again, 86Rb+ efflux was impaired (P < 0.05) only in glyburide-exposed islets. When 45Ca2+ uptake was studied, the increase in glucose concentration from 2.8 to 16.7 mM increased calcium uptake in control islets from 1.76 +/- 0.58 to 7.27 +/- 1.36 pmol/islet.2 min (n = 4). Preexposure to 0.1 microM glyburide did not change calcium uptake at a glucose concentration of 2.8 mM (1.44 +/- 0.45 pmol/islet.2 min) but significantly reduced calcium uptake stimulated by 16.7 mM glucose (3.21 +/- 0.35 pmol/islet.2 min; n = 4; P < 0.005 compared to control islets). In contrast, preexposure to 100 microM tolbutamide did not change either basal or glucose-stimulated calcium uptake (1.44 +/- 0.45 and 6.90 +/- 0.81 pmol/islet.2 min, respectively; n = 4). These data show that in vitro chronic exposure of pancreatic islets to the sulfonylureas glyburide and tolbutamide impairs their ability to respond to a subsequent glucose or sulfonylurea stimulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Identification and initial characterization of insulin receptor-like immunoreactivity in human plasma.

With a two-step purification procedure employing sequential affinity chromatography with insulin receptor monoclonal antibody followed by wheat germ agglutinin, we isolated from the plasma of two healthy individuals a material that reacted in a specific RIA for insulin receptors. This material produced dilution curves that were parallel to a human placental insulin receptor standard. This material also bound [125I]insulin; competition-inhibition curves revealed an ED50 of 0.3 nM, a value similar to that obtained with placental insulin receptors. The material purified from plasma was then labeled with [125I] Bolton-Hunter reagent, followed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions and autoradiography. A band at 135 kilodaltons (kDa) was observed, corresponding to the alpha-subunit of the insulin receptor. Several bands ranging from 82-46 kDa were also detected. One or more of these fragments had intrinsic autophosphorylation activity, but only the 82-kDa band activity was responsive to insulin. In addition, employing the synthetic substrate poly(Glu4:Tyr1), no insulin-sensitive tyrosine kinase activity was present. These studies demonstrate, therefore, that insulin receptor-derived material is present in human plasma. This material retains high affinity insulin binding, but has an altered beta-subunit that is devoid of insulin-responsive tyrosine kinase activity.

Humans↗
PubMed1992

Comparison of combined therapies in treatment of secondary failure to glyburide.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of alternative combined treatments in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) with secondary failure to sulfonylureas. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A crossover study was carried out by randomly assigning 16 NIDDM patients to a combined treatment with the addition of either a single low-dose bedtime injection of 0.2 U/kg body wt NPH insulin or an oral three times a day administration of 1.5 g/day metformin to the previously ineffective glyburide treatment. RESULTS: Both combined therapies significantly (P less than 0.01) reduced fasting plasma glucose (FPG), postprandial plasma glucose (PPPG) and percentage of HbA1. The addition of metformin was more effective than the addition of insulin (P less than 0.01) in improving PPPG in the 8 patients with higher post-glucagon C-peptide levels. In contrast, the efficacy of neither combined therapy was related to patient age, age of diabetes onset, duration of the disease, percentage of ideal body weight, and FPG. The addition of insulin but not metformin caused a significant (P less than 0.01) increase of mean body weight. Neither combined treatment caused changes in serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels. No symptomatic hypoglycemic episode was reported in any of the 16 patients. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of bedtime NPH insulin or metformin was effective in improving the glycemic control in most NIDDM patients with secondary failure to glyburide. The combination of metformin and sulfonylurea was more effective in reducing PPPG and did not induce any increase of body weight.

Blood Glucose↗
PubMed1992

Overexpression of the c-MET/HGF receptor gene in human thyroid carcinomas.

The receptor for Hepatocyte Growth Factor is a transmembrane tyrosine kinase encoded by the c-MET oncogene. We have previously shown that the Met protein is expressed in several human epithelial tissues. The receptor is barely detectable, however, in normal thyroids and in specimens from patients affected by non-neoplastic thyroid diseases. Now we report that the expression of the Met/HGF receptor is increased a hundred fold in 22 out of 41 human carcinomas derived from the thyroid follicular epithelium. A comprehensive analysis of 15 cases showed that the overexpressing carcinomas belong to histotype variants correlated with negative prognosis and in all but one case there were evidences of locally advanced disease and/or distant metastases. The 11 benign adenomas and the 5 medullary carcinomas tested were negative. Western blot analysis with monoclonal antibodies directed against either the intracellular or the extracellular receptor domains failed to reveal major structural alterations. Southern blot analysis also demonstrated that the c-MET gene was not amplified nor rearranged. These data suggest a role for the overexpression of c-MET oncogene in the pathogenesis and progression of thyroid tumors derived from the follicular epithelium.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Evaluation of the fine needle aspiration biopsy in the preoperative selection of cold thyroid nodules.

From 1980 to 1988 the authors examined by fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) 4609 patients with solitary thyroid nodules or multinodular goiters. A total of 5605 "cold" thyroid nodules were evaluated and classified, on the basis of the cytologic findings, as malignant, follicular lesions (probably malignant and probably benign) and benign. Then the authors compared the preoperative cytologic findings with the postoperative histologic results in 827 nodules from patients who underwent surgery. In the 805 thyroid nodules in which an adequate cytologic specimen was obtained, false-negative results were 2.3% and false-positive findings were 1.1% By comparing cytologic and histologic diagnoses, preoperative FNAB resulted in the ability to accurately assess the risk of cancer in a thyroid nodule; since 250 nodules were identified as malignant, the risk of a "cold" thyroid nodule being cancer was 4.46% in this series.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1991

Glucose regulates both glucose transport and the glucose transporter gene expression in a hamster-derived pancreatic beta-cell line (HIT).

We studied the effect of chronic exposure to high glucose on the glucose transport regulation in hamster pancreatic Beta cells in permanent culture (HIT). Cells were exposed to either 5.5 mmol/l or 16.7 mmol/l glucose for 48 h and then glucose transport was studied by measuring the (3H)-2-deoxyglucose uptake for 5 and 10 min at 37 degrees C. The 2-deoxyglucose uptake was lower in cells pre-exposed to glucose 16.7 mmol/l for 48 h compared to cells pre-exposed to 5.5 (12.0 +/- 1.6 vs 19.1 +/- 1.2 nmol/0.1 mg after 5 min, and 22.2 +/- 2.6 vs 39.0 +/- 2.9 after 10 min respectively, mean +/- SEM, n = 5, p less than 0.01). In order to investigate the mechanism(s) for glucose impairment of glucose transport, we studied the glucose carrier gene expression in the same cells by Northern and slot-blot analysis. When total RNA was extracted from HIT cells cultured at either 5.5 or 16.7 mmol/l glucose and then hybridized to 32P-labelled cDNA probes for the glucose transporter 1, the glucose transporter 2 and beta-actin, a significant reduction of both glucose transporter 1 (-63.9 +/- 4.1%, mean +/- SEM, n = 3) and glucose transporter 2 (-48.9 +/- 3.2%) mRNA was observed in HIT cells cultured with high glucose. In the same experiments no change of beta-actin mRNA was observed, suggesting that the effect of high glucose was specific on the glucose-transporter mRNAs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Chronic exposure to glibenclamide impairs insulin secretion in isolated rat pancreatic islets.

We investigated the effect of 24 h exposure to 100 nmol/l glibenclamide on insulin secretion in isolated rat pancreatic islets. The insulin content was similar in control islets and in islets preincubated with 100 nmol/l glibenclamide for 24 h. In islets preexposed to glibenclamide: 1) the subsequent response to a maximal glibenclamide stimulatory concentration (10 mumol/l, 1 h at 37 C) was greatly reduced in comparison to control islets (0.69 +/- 0.20% vs 2.16 +/- 0.41%; mean +/- SE; n = 14; p less than 0.001); 2) the response to 100 mumol/l tolbutamide stimulation was also reduced (0.55 +/- 0.15% vs 2.38 +/- 0.44%; n = 8; p less than 0.001); 3) the response to 16.7 mmo/l glucose, both in the presence or in the absence of 1 mmol/l IBMX, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, was also diminished by about 50% (1.79 +/- 0.39% vs. 3.22 +/- 0.42%; n = 14, p less than 0.001). In glibenclamide pretreated islets, blunted responses to stimuli were confirmed also by dynamic studies using a perifusion system. The effect of glibenclamide preincubation was fully reversible: when islets cultured in the presence of glibenclamide were transferred to a glibenclamide-free medium for further 24 h, insulin release in response to glibenclamide stimulation returned to control values. We conclude that prolonged exposure of rat pancreatic islets to glibenclamide induces a reversible desensitization to a variety of metabolic stimuli. The inhibition by prolonged glibenclamide exposure of a common pathway in the mechanism of insulin release is one possible explanation for these results.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Radioimmunoassay for human insulin-like growth factor-I receptor: applicability to breast carcinoma specimens and cell lines.

A radioimmunoassay for the human insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) receptor was developed using a rabbit polyclonal antibody to the human IGF-I receptor and a highly purified IGF-I receptor. The purified receptor was radiolabeled with 125I-Bolton-Hunter reagent. Over 18% of the radiolabeled receptor was immunoprecipitated with the polyclonal antireceptor antibody. Purified IGF-I receptor concentrations as low as 5 ng/0.5 mL inhibited the radiolabeled IGF-I receptor binding. Purified insulin receptor weakly inhibited this binding, while the ligand IGF-I did not show inhibition. The radioimmunoassay was applicable to the measurements of IGF-I receptors in the Triton X-100 extracts of various tissues and cells. Breast cancer tissues and cells showed detectable IGF-I receptors, which correlated with IGF-I ligand binding. Receptor content was measurable in placenta and IM-9 cells, but receptor content was not measurable in liver and muscle extracts.

Binding, Competitive↗
PubMed1991

Overexpression of insulin receptors in fibroblast and ovary cells induces a ligand-mediated transformed phenotype.

To investigate whether overexpression of the insulin receptor results in altered cell growth we used NIH 3T3 cells transfected with a bovine papilloma virus/insulin receptor cDNA construct (3T3/HIR). These cells expressed high numbers of insulin receptors (mean +/- sd, 631.0 +/- 16.7 ng receptors/10(6) cells). Insulin significantly stimulated the growth of 3T3/HIR cells maintained in serum-free medium. Moreover, in these cells, insulin induced marked phenotypic changes, including alterations in cell shape, loss of contact inhibition, and focal growth. In contrast to 3T3/HIR cells, insulin was without effect in either wild-type 3T3 cells (3T3/wt), 3T3 cells transfected with the neomycin resistance gene (3T3/NEO), or the bovine papilloma virus (3T3/BPV). To assess the presence of anchorage-independent growth, cells were seeded in soft agar and inspected for colony formation. 3T3/HIR cells showed absent or minimal colony growth in the absence of insulin. However, there was a dose-dependent insulin-stimulated increase in both colony size and number. Insulin-stimulated colony formation was specifically inhibited by an insulin antagonist, monoclonal antibody MA-10. In the presence of 100 nM insulin, about 3% of cells formed large colonies. Insulin neither stimulated growth nor induced colony formation in 3T3/wt cells or 3T3/NEO cells. Insulin also stimulated colony formation in CHO cells transfected with an insulin receptor cDNA construct. In conclusion, overexpression of normal insulin receptors induces a ligand-dependent transformed phenotype. This phenomenon may have clinical relevance by conferring a selective growth advantage to tumor cells with high numbers of insulin receptors.

Agar↗
PubMed1991

Treatment of NIDDM patients with secondary failure to glyburide: comparison of the addition of either metformin or bed-time NPH insulin to glyburide.

In this study we compared, in 12 NIDDM patients with secondary failure to glyburide, the effect of adding either a single, low-dose bed time NPH insulin injection (0.2 U/Kg) or an oral metformin administration (500 mg x 3) to the previously ineffective sulfonylurea treatment. The addition of both insulin and metformin treatment significantly improved fasting plasma glucose, post-prandial plasma glucose and %HbA1. The effect of both combined therapies was already evident and maximal after 2 weeks of treatment. The addition of bed-time NPH insulin caused a greater decrease of fasting plasma glucose, although the difference with the addition of metformin was not significant. In contrast, the average post-prandial plasma glucose decrease was significantly greater after metformin addition. The addition of bed-time NPH insulin caused a significant increase in average body weight, while after metformin addition, average body weight was unchanged; no change in the average cholesterol and triglyceride level was observed after either combined therapies.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Progestins increase insulin receptor content and insulin stimulation of growth in human breast carcinoma cells.

The effects of progesterone on the growth of breast carcinoma cells are undefined. In the present study we investigated the effect of progestins on insulin receptor gene expression and insulin action in human breast cancer cells. Treatment of T47D cells with the synthetic progestin R5020 induced a time- and dose-dependent increase in insulin receptor content as measured by both ligand-binding studies and radioimmunoassay. Binding was half-maximally stimulated at 300 pM R5020 and maximal levels were reached after 4 days of treatment. Progesterone was 10-fold less potent than R5020. Cortisol had no effect on insulin receptor levels, while 17 beta-estradiol and dihydrotestosterone had minimal effects. Progestin treatment both increased insulin receptor mRNA levels and altered the relative distribution of the multiple insulin receptor mRNA transcripts. In order to study the functional significance of the increased insulin receptor levels, we incubated T47D cells with progesterone and then treated them with insulin. Insulin alone had a small effect on cell growth; however, the effect of insulin was markedly potentiated by progesterone treatment. These studies in breast cancer cells demonstrate, therefore, that insulin receptor gene expression is under the regulation of progestins and raise the possibility that progestin-insulin interactions may regulate breast cancer cell growth in vivo.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1990

Elevated insulin receptor content in human breast cancer.

The growth of breast cancer cells is under the regulation of hormones, growth factors, and their receptors. In the present study, we have employed a new, sensitive, and specific radioimmunoassay for the direct measurement of insulin receptors in surgical specimens of breast cancers. In 159 specimens the insulin receptor content was 6.15 +/- 3.69 ng/0.1 mg protein. This value was more than sixfold higher than the mean value found in both 27 normal breast tissues obtained at total mastectomy (0.95 + 0.68, P less than 0.001) and in six normal specimens obtained from reduction mammoplasty (0.84 +/- 0.78, P less than 0.001). The insulin receptor content in breast cancer tissues was also higher than in any normal tissue investigated including liver (Pezzino, V., V. Papa, V. Trischitta, A. Brunetti, P.A. Goodman, M.K. Treutelaar, J.A. Williams, B.A. Maddux, R. Vigneri, and I.D. Goldfine, 1989. Am. J. Physiol. 257:E451-457). The insulin receptor in breast cancer retained its ability to both bind insulin and undergo insulin-induced tyrosine kinase activation. Immunostaining of the specimens revealed that the insulin receptor was present in malignant epithelial cells, but was not detected in stromal and inflammatory cells. Univariant analysis revealed that the insulin receptor content of the tumors correlated positively with tumor size (P = 0.014), histological grading (P = 0.030), and the estrogen receptor content (P = 0.035). There were no significant correlations between insulin receptor content and the age, body weight, menopausal status, and nodal involvement of the patients. These studies indicate, therefore, that the insulin receptor content is increased in breast cancers and raise the possibility that the insulin receptor may have a role in the biology of these tumors.

Binding, Competitive↗