The role of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-related protein 1 (IGFBP-rP1) in endometrial carcinoma

Objective: Insulin resistance is a high risk factor of Endometrial Carcinoma (EC). Insulin like Growth Factor Binding Protein-Related Protein 1 (IGFBP-rP1) could lead to insulin resistance due to its high affinity with insulin. The role of IGFBP-rP1 in EC is still unclear. Method: The IGFBP-rP1 was overexpressed at the cellular level first, and then its effect on the growth of endometrial carcinoma cells was observed and its regulatory mechanism was investigated. Results: Our study showed that IGFBP-rP1 upregulation decreased the proliferation of cells and the proportion of S+G2/M phase, but increased the apoptosis of human endometrial cancer cells HEC-1A. The expression of p-ERK1/2 was inhibited, while the concentration of rhIGFBP-rP1 increased. Nevertheless, IGFBP-rP1 was highly expressed in EC tissues. Further examination revealed that the DNA hypomethylation in the promoter region of IGFBP-rP1 was correlated with the high mRNA and protein expression levels of IGFBP-rP1 in EC tissues. Conclusion: These results indicate that the DNA hypomethylation of IGFBP-rP1 can be used to predict high risk of EC. Further study may be required to confirm the predictor role of the methylation of IGFBP-rP1 in EC.