STUDY OF INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTORS IN THE BLOOD OF PATIENTS WITH SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA OF THE TONGUE AND LOWER ORAL MUCOSA RECEIVING THERAPY WITH MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES - CETUXIMAB

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to measure blood levels of insulin-like growth factors in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue and lower oral mucosa depending of the efficacy of cetuximab chemotherapy. The study included the data on 50 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue and lower oral mucosa T3-4N0-1M0. Patients received chemotherapy with cetuximab (n=30, main group) and without it (n=20, controls). Results were compared with the values in 20 non-cancer donors. Both groups of patients were divided into two subgroups: with stable disease and partial regression. Before treatment, blood serum levels of the two insulinlike growth factors IGF-1 and IGF-2 in patients were lower than in donors by 53.5% and 20.3%, respectively. A cycle of the standard chemotherapy in the subgroup with partial regression statistically significantly increased IGF-1 levels by 33% compared to the values before treatment, while IGF-2 was both within donor and initial values and the IGF-1/IGF- 2 ratio was similar to the initial level but 33% lower than in donors. Cetuximab chemotherapy in patients with partial regression normalized IGF-1 levels increasing it compared to initial values - by 87%. IGF-2 levels did not differ statistically significantly from their initial values and were 32.5% lower than in donors. The IGF-1/IGF-2 ratio was 58% higher than before treatment. Two therapy types demonstrated than cetuximab chemotherapy normalized IGF-1 in patients with partial tumor regression shown by the IGF-1 increase up to normal blood levels in effective treatment.