Because insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) counteracts the anti-neoplastic effect of cisplatin that induces DNA damage and cell death through the formation of platinum-DNA adducts, we investigated the effects of IGF-1 on the DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) repair system induced by cisplatin. NCI-H1299 and H460 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells treated with IGF-1 recovered from cisplatin-derived inhibited proliferation and apoptosis. Decreased tail length in comet assay and suppressed phosphorylation of histone H2AX at Ser139 with IGF-1 cotreatment indicates that IGF-1 attenuates cisplatin-induced DNA damage. Cotreatment with IGF-1 attenuates phosphorylation of ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) at Ser1981, and ATM-Rad3-related (ATR) at Ser428 and subsequent phosphorylation of Chk2, Chk1, and p53 also dwindled by IGF-1. On the other hand, suppression of the IGF system with AG1024 or siRNA of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), a major adaptor molecule of the IGF system, augmented cisplatin-induced gammaH2AX, Ser1981-pATM, and Ser428-pATR generation. ATM, which plays an important role in the phosphorylation of histone H2AX and Chk2 at Thr68, strongly binds with IRS-1 under the influence of cisplatin, and the interaction was partially inhibited by IGF-1. Immunocytochemistry revealed that cisplatin induces nuclear translocation of IRS-1 with Ser1981-pATM, which is suppressed by cotreatment with IGF-1. In conclusion, cisplatin-induced gammaH2AX formation, DNA DSBs repair, and damage checkpoint pathway is inhibited by IGF-1. Cisplatin derives interaction between ATM and IRS-1, which is suppressed by IGF-1. Modulation of biologic activity of the IGF-1 system could be a promising modality that raises the response rate of conventional chemotherapy.