Insulin-like growth factor-1, IGF binding protein-3, and the risk of esophageal cancer in a nested case-control study

AIM: To assess the relationship between serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1)/IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP3) and the risk of esophageal carcinoma. METHODS: We assessed the relationship between the serum levels of these molecules and the risk of esophageal cancer in a prospective, nested case-control study of participants from the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study. A baseline survey was conducted from 1988 to 1990. Of the 110585 enrolled participants, 35% donated blood samples. Those who had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer were considered cases for nested case-control studies. A conditional logistic model was used to estimate odds ratios for the incidence of esophageal cancer associated with serum IGF1 and IGFBP3 levels. CONCLUSION: The free form of IGFBP3, which is estimated by this molar difference, may be inversely associated with esophageal cancer incidence.