Abstract
Abstract Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is a potent mitogen for normal and neoplastic breast epithelial cells. It has been shown that anti-oestrogens decrease IGF-I levels and gene expression, but it is not clear to what extent this contributes to their antineoplastic activity. In the uterus IGF-I is also a mitogen and has been shown to be an important mediator of the uterotrophic effect of oestrogens. The effect of ‘anti-oestrogens’ on the expression of IGF-I in the uterus is closely related to their uterotrophic action. For example, tamoxifen induces uterine hypertrophy and upregulates uterine IGF-I expression, while ICI 182780 causes uterine involution and is associated with suppression of uterine IGF-I expression. In studies of novel oestrogen receptor ligands, it will be of interest to determine their effect on IGF-I expression both systemically and in the uterus.
Published Version
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