IGF1 and cancer: It was also indicated in an important review by Pollak et al that increasing IGF-1 levels are associated with an increased risk of cancer since somatic cells of individuals with higher levels of IGF-1 may show slightly higher proliferation rates and have a slightly increased chance of survival in the presence of genetic damage because of the antiapoptotic effects of IGF-1 (model of stepwise accumulation of genetic damage leading to carcinogenesis) (1).