Altered expression of low affinity insulin-like growth factor binding protein related proteins in hepatoblastoma.

Hepatoblastoma is a poorly understood rare pediatric liver tumour. We have previously shown that the IGF-axis is seriously disrupted in this tumour type. With the recent discovery that several other proteins also have the potential to bind to IGFs called insulin-like growth factor binding protein related proteins (IGFBP-rPs), we undertook an examination of several such genes in a series of hepatoblastomas with matched normal liver tissue. The expression profiles obtained reveal that the expression of these genes are also disturbed in these tumours, and may have implications for our understanding of the IGF-axis and its importance in this disease.