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Updated: Dec 31, 2025

In Vitro Assay to Study Tumor-macrophage Interaction
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Published on: August 1, 2019

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Pleiotropic role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in cancer

Maheedhara R Guda1, Matthew A Rashid1, Swapna Asuthkar1

  • 1Department of Cancer Biology and Pharmacology, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria Peoria, IL, USA.

American Journal of Cancer Research
|January 9, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), an inflammatory cytokine, is overexpressed in many cancers, promoting tumor growth and decreasing survival. Continued research into anti-MIF therapies is crucial for cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a key inflammatory cytokine with established roles in immunity.
  • Emerging evidence implicates MIF in the complex processes of carcinogenesis and cancer progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and synthesize clinical and experimental data on the role of MIF in diverse human malignancies.
  • To highlight MIF's contribution to cancer development and its prognostic significance.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive literature review of published clinical and experimental studies on MIF in cancer.
  • Analysis of data linking MIF expression to cancer hallmarks and patient outcomes.

Main Results:

  • MIF is frequently overexpressed across various cancers, including glioblastomas, lung, breast, gastric, melanoma, bladder, and head and neck cancers.
  • MIF overexpression correlates with cell cycle deregulation, enhanced angiogenesis, and increased metastasis.
  • Elevated MIF levels in tumors are associated with reduced patient survival rates and increased tumor aggression.

Conclusions:

  • MIF plays a significant oncogenic role by promoting key cancer progression mechanisms.
  • MIF overexpression serves as a negative prognostic biomarker in multiple cancer types.
  • Development and investigation of anti-MIF therapeutic strategies are warranted.
Keywords:
CD74MIFcancer

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