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Midkine (MDK) in cancer and drug resistance: from inflammation to therapy

Berna Yıldırım1, Kudret Kulak2, Ayhan Bilir3

  • 1Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul Atlas University, İstanbul, Turkey.

Discover Oncology
|June 11, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Midkine (MDK), a growth factor, drives cancer and inflammation. Targeting MDK offers a promising therapeutic strategy for various diseases, though further research is needed.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Midkine (MDK) is a heparin-binding growth factor with minimal expression in adult tissues.
  • MDK expression significantly increases during embryogenesis and in response to injury, infection, or hypoxia.
  • It plays a role in inflammatory responses and oncogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on Midkine's (MDK) expression, molecular mechanisms, and functional roles in diseases.
  • To discuss MDK's potential as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker.
  • To highlight emerging therapeutic strategies targeting MDK.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on Midkine (MDK).
  • Synthesis of information on MDK's expression profiles and molecular functions.
  • Analysis of MDK's role in various pathological conditions.

Main Results:

  • MDK promotes tumor proliferation, angiogenesis, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and therapeutic resistance.
  • Elevated MDK levels correlate with aggressive tumor behavior and poor clinical outcomes.
  • MDK modulates inflammatory responses by recruiting immune cells and enhancing cytokine production.

Conclusions:

  • Midkine (MDK) is implicated in cancer and inflammation, making it a potential therapeutic target.
  • MDK shows promise as a biomarker for disease diagnosis and prognosis.
  • Further preclinical and clinical studies are necessary to validate MDK-targeted therapies.
Keywords:
CancerInflammatory diseasesMidkine (MDK)Multidrug resistance

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