ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:The most important regulatory factor for IGF-I and IGFBP-3 known so far GH and food intake. Poor nutrition in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia(ALL) increase morbidity during treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the changes of serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentration during induction chemotherapy in 13 children with acute lymphocytic leukemia. METHODS:13 children aged between 1.6 and 13.5 years with ALL were studied the changes of serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentration before, at 2 and 4 weeks after induction chemotherapy. Serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were measured using radioimmunoassay. Results : 1) Mean serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentration before induction chemotherapy in ALL patient was significantly lower than the those of normal control(p<0.05). 2) Mean serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentration at 2 weeks of induction chemotherapy were significantly higher than the those of the basal levels (p<0.05). 3) Mean serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentration at 4 weeks after induction chemotherapy were significantly higher than the those of the basal levels (p<0.05). Conclusion : Concentration of serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in patients with ALL were significantly increased during induction chemotherapy. These results are probably related to improvement of nutritional status following induction chemotherapy.