title: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor expression in ovarian cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the hypothesis that ovarian cancer patients have significantly higher levels of serum macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF).
  
  
  METHODS
  MIF levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines and immortalized normal ovarian surface epithelial cells and in serum of ovarian cancer patients (n = 54) and age-matched healthy women (n = 60). To determine the impact of Toll-like receptor-4 ligation on MIF levels, cells were treated for 48 hours with lipopolysaccharide.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cancer cells, but not normal cells, secrete significant amounts of MIF. This correlates in vivo, where serum MIF levels are significantly higher in ovarian cancer patients. Treatment of cancer cells with lipopolysaccharide induced a significant increase in MIF secretion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MIF may be relevant in the process of ovarian cancer formation and progression. The events leading to the induction of MIF expression and its contribution to ovarian cancer progression may open new venues for targeted therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
authors.forename: Rinki
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: Dong Hee
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Whang
authors.forename: Ayesha B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Alvero
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Visintin
authors.forename: Yinglei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Elliot A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Segal
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rutherford
authors.forename: Gil
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D011336:Probability; D012372:ROC Curve; D012016:Reference Values; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors