title: Serum and salivary macrophage migration inhibitory factor in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: The overexpression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has been identified in a variety of tumors and the investigation of its molecular mechanisms in tumor progression is a key topic of research. The present study aimed to investigate MIF as a potential marker for disease control or recurrence, and to assess the association between serum and salivary MIF and the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Serum and salivary samples were collected prior to and following the surgical treatment of 50 patients with OSCC. MIF concentrations were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the adopted level of statistical significance was P<0.05. The results revealed that serum MIF concentrations were significantly reduced following tumor resection in OSCC patients. Furthermore, higher preoperative salivary MIF concentrations were observed in patients with larger tumors and in those who succumbed to the disease. In conclusion, high salivary and serological MIF concentrations were identified in patients with OSCC. Nevertheless, only serological MIF concentrations may be considered as a potential marker for the early detection of OSCC recurrence once the salivary levels, prior and following treatment, do not show any significant differences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Oncology, Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01246903, Brazil ; Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Heliópolis Hospital, São Paulo 04231030, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana Barbosa
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: DE Souza
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Heliópolis Hospital, São Paulo 04231030, Brazil ; Department of Head and Neck Surgery and Otorhinolaryngology, Heliópolis Hospital, São Paulo 04231030, Brazil.
authors.forename: Otávio Alberto
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Curioni
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Padre Anchieta Teaching Hospital, ABC Medical School, São Bernardo do Campo 09715090, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jossi Ledo
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kanda
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Heliópolis Hospital, São Paulo 04231030, Brazil ; Department of Head and Neck Surgery and Otorhinolaryngology, Heliópolis Hospital, São Paulo 04231030, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcos Brasilino
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: DE Carvalho
keywords: inflammation; macrophage migration inhibitory factor; oral cancer; salivary biomarker; serum biomarker