Relation of the IGF/IGF1R system to autophagy in colitis and colorectal cancer

Figure 2 Controversial therapeutic effects of IGF1R inhibition. In case of IGF1R inhibition the simultaneously induced cell-protective autophagy could promote cell proliferation and suppress apoptosis, thus via autophagy antagonize its own original actions on cells. If IGF1R inhibition is combined with autophagy disruptive agents autophagy can be blocked, hence cancer cell proliferation will be suppressed and apoptosis enhanced. IGF1R: Insulin-like growth factor receptor 1.