Potential use of serum insulin‐like growth factor 1 and E‐cadherin as biomarkers of colorectal cancer

Abstract Aim Despite many efforts, reliable biomarkers for the prediction and diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) are still missing. Insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1) and E‐cadherin are recognized as potential biomarkers, but their diagnostic capacity is largely unexplored in CRC. The aim of this work is to investigate IGF‐1 and E‐cadherin levels with respect to various characteristics of CRC and to estimate their diagnostic potential. Method Seventy CRC patients and 75 healthy individuals were enrolled. IGF‐1 and E‐cadherin were determined using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The predictive and diagnostic capacities of IGF‐1 and E‐cadherin were estimated by logistic regression analysis and by determination of the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC). Results Concentrations of IGF‐1 were lower ( P = 0.019) while levels of E‐cadherin were higher ( P < 0.001) in CRC patients than in controls. IGF‐1 concentration decreased in parallel with age and progression of CRC ( P = 0.023). Also, IGF‐1 was higher in men with CRC than in women ( P = 0.003). E‐cadherin levels were unaffected by variations in either anthropometric characteristics of CRC patients, or localization, grade and stage of the tumour. Both IGF‐1 and E‐cadherin were independently associated with CRC ( P = 0.040; P < 0.001, respectively). The diagnostic accuracy of IGF‐1 was estimated as acceptable (AUC = 0.757; P < 0.001), while the diagnostic accuracy of E‐cadherin was outstanding (AUC = 0.954; P < 0.001). Conclusions Decreased IGF‐1 and increased E‐cadherin levels were found in CRC patients. IGF‐1, but not E‐cadherin, concentrations differed according to age, gender and stage of CRC. Both markers were independently associated with the presence of the disease, while E‐cadherin demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy.