Macrophage migration inhibitory factor expression in ovarian cancer.
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.
Agarwal
Rinki
R
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
Whang
Dong Hee
DH
Alvero
Ayesha B
AB
Visintin
Irene
I
Lai
Yinglei
Y
Segal
Elliot A
EA
Schwartz
Peter
P
Ward
David
D
Rutherford
Thomas
T
Mor
Gil
G
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
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors