Insulin-Like Growth Factor System in Cancer: Novel Targeted Therapies

Figure 1

The IGF axis: circulating IGFs are protected from degradation by forming complex with IGFBPs. IGFs, apart from their local functioning in an autocrine or a paracrine manner, enter the bloodstream, where they exist as binary complexes with each IGFBP. In addition, ternary complex also exists when the binary complexes with IGFBP-3 or IGFBP-5 interact with the acid labile subunit (ALS). After dissociation of ternary complex, the binary complexes of IGFBP-IGF are removed from the circulation and cross the endothelium to reach the target tissues and to interact with cell surface receptors.