Macrophage migration inhibitory factor and oral cancer.
BACKGROUND
Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pleiotropic cytokine with pro-inflammatory functions and involved in tumorigenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression and localization of the macrophage MIF in oral squamous carcinoma (OSC). In addition, the relationship between MIF expression and clinicopathological parameters such as survival data, tobacco use, alcohol habits, TNM stage, tumor graduation, and peritumoral inflammatory infiltrate were evaluated.


METHODS
Using immunohistochemistry, expression and localization of MIF was detected in 44 specimens of OSC. The absolute number and relative proportions of MIF-positive cells detected were also determined separately for tumor parenchyma vs. stroma. All counts were determined from 10 consecutive high-power fields using an integration graticule. Moreover, some parameters were analyzed separately for lip and intra-oral cancers.


RESULTS
Migration inhibitory factor-positive cells were observed in both the tumor parenchyma and in inflammatory cells of all specimens. In contrast, MIF expression was not detected in tumoral nests associated with poorly differentiated tumors. In specimens of lip cancer, a greater number of MIF-positive stromal immune cells were detected than in intra-oral cancer specimens (Mann-Whitney test, P = 0.049).


CONCLUSIONS
Oral squamous carcinoma cells consistently express MIF independent of their location. Lip tumors presented more MIF-positive peritumoral inflammatory cells, similar to control, suggesting that immunological differences in leukocyte activation exist between in lip and intra-oral cancers.
Post-Graduation Program of Biophotonics Applied to Health Sciences, Nove de Julho University, São Paulo, Brazil. cristiane321@gmail.com
Cristiane M
CM
França
Aline C
AC
Batista
Ricardo C
RC
Borra
Jose A
JA
Ventiades-Flores
Elismauro F
EF
Mendonça
Alessandro M
AM
Deana
Raquel A
RA
Mesquita-Ferrari
Decio
D
de Natali Caly
Sigmar
S
de Mello Rode
Miriam R
MR
Faria
D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D002452:Cell Count; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000473:pathology; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000473:pathology; D008048:Lip Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012907:Smoking; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate
D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors; D007633:Keratins