Oncogenic Role of the Ec Peptide of the IGF-1Ec Isoform in Prostate Cancer.

Armakolas A, Kaparelou M, Dimakakos A, Papageorgiou E, Armakolas N, Antonopoulos A, Petraki C, Lekarakou M, Lelovas P, Stathaki M, Psarros C, Donta I and 4 more

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Galanos PS, Msaouel P, Gorgoulis VG, Koutsilieris M

Molecular medicine (Cambridge, Mass.)6 Jan 2015Cited by 16 (Europe PMC)

PMID25569803PMCIDPMC4461578DOI10.2119/molmed.2014.00222PepBankPUB-25569803

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Summary

IGF-1 is one of the key molecules in cancer biology; however, little is known about the role of the preferential expression of the premature IGF-1 isoforms in prostate cancer. We have examined the role of the cleaved COO- terminal peptide (PEc) of the third IGF-1 isoform, IGF-1Ec, in prostate cancer. Our evidence suggests that endogenously produced PEc induces cellular proliferation in the human prostate cancer cells (PC-3) in vitro and in vivo, by activating the ERK1/2 pathway in an autocrine/paracrine manner. PEc overexpressing cells and tumors presented evidence of epithelial to mesenchymal transition, whereas the orthotopic injection of PEc-overexpressing, normal prostate epithelium cells (HPrEC) in SCID mice was associated with increased metastatic rate. In humans, the IGF-1Ec expression was detected in prostate cancer biopsies, where its expression correlates with tumor stage. Our data describes the action of PEc in prostate cancer biology and defines its potential role in tumor growth, progression and metastasis.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study5

No result from this study comes from a test of the peptide.

Natural levels measured1

These results measure the body's own peptide. Nobody was given the peptide. They are not evidence about taking it. They are left out of key results, evidence counts and charts.

01HumanEndogenous levelObservational studyOther
In human prostate cancer biopsies, IGF-1Ec expression was detected and correlated with tumor stage.
In plain wordsIn people with prostate cancer, the body's own IGF-1Ec was found in biopsies and was linked to tumor stage.
Peptide
MGF / PEG-MGF
Outcome
Not applicableIGF-1Ec expression and tumor stage in prostate cancer biopsies
Study
n: not reported in source
Prostate cancer biopsies
Outcome group
Tumor growth · Cancer
Source sentences
Summary
In humans, the IGF-1Ec expression was detected in prostate cancer biopsies, where its expression correlates with tumor stage.
This result measures the body's own MGF / PEG-MGF. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2556980305

Studies that did not test the peptide alone4

In this study, MGF / PEG-MGF was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking MGF / PEG-MGF.

02AnimalNot a test of MGF / PEG-MGF aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In vivo, endogenously produced PEc induced proliferation of human PC-3 prostate cancer cells through the ERK1/2 pathway.
In plain wordsIn animal tests, the cell's own PEc made prostate cancer cells multiply through the ERK1/2 pathway.
Peptide
MGF / PEG-MGF
Outcome
IncreasePC-3 tumor proliferation by endogenously produced PEc in vivo
Study
mousen: not reported in source
PC-3 prostate cancer cells in vivo
Outcome group
Tumor growth · Cancer
Source sentences
Summary
Our evidence suggests that endogenously produced PEc induces cellular proliferation in the human prostate cancer cells (PC-3) in vitro and in vivo
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
by activating the ERK1/2 pathway in an autocrine/paracrine manner.
In this study, MGF / PEG-MGF was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking MGF / PEG-MGF.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2556980302
03AnimalNot a test of MGF / PEG-MGF aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In SCID mice, orthotopic injection of PEc-overexpressing normal prostate epithelium cells (HPrEC) was associated with an increased metastatic rate.
In plain wordsIn mice, normal prostate cells that made extra PEc were linked to more metastasis.
Peptide
MGF / PEG-MGF
Outcome
IncreaseMetastatic rate with PEc-overexpressing normal prostate epithelium cells
Study
mousen: not reported in source
SCID mice, orthotopic injection of PEc-overexpressing HPrEC cells
Outcome group
Tumor growth · Cancer
Source sentences
Summary
whereas the orthotopic injection of PEc-overexpressing, normal prostate epithelium cells (HPrEC) in SCID mice was associated with increased metastatic rate.
In this study, MGF / PEG-MGF was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking MGF / PEG-MGF.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2556980304
04LabNot a test of MGF / PEG-MGF aloneIn vitro (cells)Mechanism
In human PC-3 prostate cancer cells in vitro, endogenously produced PEc induced cell proliferation through the ERK1/2 pathway.
In plain wordsIn prostate cancer cells in the lab, the cell's own PEc made the cells multiply through the ERK1/2 pathway.
Peptide
MGF / PEG-MGF
Outcome
IncreasePC-3 cell proliferation by endogenously produced PEc in vitro
Study
humann: not reported in source
PC-3 prostate cancer cells
Outcome group
Tumor growth · Cancer
Source sentences
Summary
Our evidence suggests that endogenously produced PEc induces cellular proliferation in the human prostate cancer cells (PC-3) in vitro
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
by activating the ERK1/2 pathway in an autocrine/paracrine manner.
In this study, MGF / PEG-MGF was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking MGF / PEG-MGF.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2556980301
05LabNot a test of MGF / PEG-MGF aloneIn vitro (cells)Mechanism
PEc-overexpressing cells and tumors showed evidence of epithelial to mesenchymal transition.
In plain wordsIn lab and tumor models, cells that made extra PEc showed signs of changing toward a more mobile cell type.
Peptide
MGF / PEG-MGF
Outcome
IncreaseEpithelial to mesenchymal transition in PEc-overexpressing cells and tumors
Study
humann: not reported in source
PEc-overexpressing PC-3 cells and tumors
Outcome group
Tumor growth · Cancer
Source sentences
Summary
PEc overexpressing cells and tumors presented evidence of epithelial to mesenchymal transition
In this study, MGF / PEG-MGF was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking MGF / PEG-MGF.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2556980303

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
13 Oct 2026, 21:44 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
13 Oct 2026, 16:31 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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