INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH-FACTOR-2 AND INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH-FACTOR BINDING-PROTEIN-2 EXPRESSION IN HEPATOBLASTOMA

The expression of insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) and insulinlike growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP2) in 11 cases of hepatoblastoma was studied by means of in situ mRNA hybridization using digoxigenin (DIG)-labeled riboprobes. The results showed that both IGF2 and IGFBP2 transcripts are present in hepatoblastoma and that their expression is inversely correlated with the degree of tumor cell differentiation. The data suggested that IGF2 and IGFBP2 gene expression could be regarded as a marker for assessment of the degree of differentiation in hepatoblastoma. HUM PATHOL 26:846-851. Copyright (C) 1995 by W.B. Saunders Company.