Immunohistochemical analysis of insulin-like growth factor 1 and its receptor in sporadic schwannoma/peripheral nerve sheath tumour

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the immunohistochemical localization of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) in archival specimens of sporadic schwannoma. METHOD: This study retrospectively analysed the immunolocalization of IGF-1 and IGF-1R in schwannoma specimens collected from all patients with sporadic schwannoma that were treated by two institutions in Japan. The study also evaluated the association between the extent of the IGF-1 and IGF-1R immunoreactivity and several clinicopathological characteristics (age, sex and maximum tumour dimension). RESULTS: The study examined a total of 29 sporadic schwannoma specimens. IGF-1 and IGF-1R immunoreactivity was detected in the majority of the specimens regardless of their anatomical location. IGF-1 and IGF-1R were not co-localized. There was no association between the extent of the IGF-1 and IGF-1R immunoreactivity and the clinicopathological characteristics of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: As IGF-1 and IGF-1R immunoreactivity was detected in the majority of sporadic schwannoma specimens regardless of their anatomical location, these findings suggest that an IGF-1/IGF-1R loop could play a role in the tumorigenesis and progression of schwannomas via an autocrine–paracrine mechanism.