Association of IGF-1, IGF-2, IGF-1R and IGFBP-3 mRNA expression levels with postoperative survival rate. Postoperative survival did not differ significantly according to expression levels of the (A) IGF-1, (B) IGF-2 or (C) IGF-1R genes. (D) By contrast, postoperative survival rate was significantly poorer in patients with high expression levels of the IGFBP-3 gene compared with those with low expression levels (P=0.003). Expression levels of IGF-1, IGF-2, IGF-1R and IGFBP-3 mRNA were categorized as low or high according to the respective median values. The postoperative survival rate was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and differences in survival rates were assessed with the use of the log-rank test. Results have a median follow-up of 3.24 years. IGF, insulin-like growth factors; IGF-1R, IGF-1 receptor; IGFBP, IGF binding protein.