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BACKGROUND
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the western world. Chemotherapy is often ineffective to treat the advanced colorectal cancers due to the chemo-resistance. A major contributor to chemo-resistance is tumour-derived inhibition or avoidance of apoptosis. Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) has been known to play a prominent role in colorectal cancer development and progression. The role of IGF-I in cancer cell apoptosis is not completely understood.METHODS
Using three colorectal cancer cell lines and one muscle cell line, associations between IGF-I and activities of caspase 3/7, 8 and 9 have been examined; the role of insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR) in the caspase activation has been investigated.RESULTS
The results show that exogenous IGF-I significantly increases activity of caspases 3/7, 8 and 9 in all cell lines used; blocking IGF-I receptor reduce IGF-I-induced caspase activation. Further studies demonstrate that IGF-I induced caspase activation does not result in cell death. This is the first report to show that while IGF-I activates caspases 3/7, 8 and 9 it does not cause colorectal cancer cell death.CONCLUSIONS
The study suggests that caspase activation is not synonymous with apoptosis and that activation of caspases may not necessarily induce cell death.
caspase ⊣ insulin-like growth factor I receptor: " Using three colorectal cancer cell lines and one muscle cell line, associations between IGF-I and activities of caspase 3/7, 8 and 9 have been examined ; the role of insulin-like growth factor I receptor ( IGF-IR ) in the caspase activation has been investigated "
caspase → IGF-I: " The results show that exogenous IGF-I significantly increases activity of caspases 3/7, 8 and 9 in all cell lines used ; blocking IGF-I receptor reduce IGF-I induced caspase activation "
IGF-I → caspase: " Further studies demonstrate that IGF-I induced caspase activation does not result in cell death "