To test if continuous exposure to insulin can favour tumour growth, we studied insulin/IGF1-dependent activation of ERK1/2 and Akt/PKB by Western blotting, inhibition of apoptosis by ELISA, and induction of proliferation by [3H]-thymidine incorporation in Saos-2/B10 osteosarcoma cells. The gene discussed is INS; the disease is osteosarcoma.