Screening of immunosuppressive factors for biomarkers of breast cancer malignancy phenotypes and subtype-specific targeted therapy

Emerging Role of the Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor Family of Cytokines in Neuroblastoma. Pathogenic Effectors and Novel Therapeutic Targets?

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most frequent extracranial pediatric tumor. Despite the current available multiple therapeutic options, the prognosis for high-risk NB patients remains unsatisfactory and makes the disease a clear unmet medical need. Thus, more tailored therapeutic approaches are warranted to improve both the quality of life and the survival of the patients. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pleiotropic cytokine that plays a key role in several diseases, including cancer. Preclinical and clinical studies in NB patients convergently indicate that MIF exerts pro-tumorigenic properties in NB. MIF is upregulated in NB tumor tissues and cell lines and it contributes to NB aggressiveness and immune-escape. To date, there are only a few data about the role of the second member of the MIF family, the MIF homolog d-dopachrome tautomerase (DDT), in NB. Here, we review the preclinical and clinical studies on the role of the MIF family of cytokines in NB and suggest that MIF and possibly DDT inhibitors may be promising novel prognostic and therapeutic targets in NB management.

Pleiotropic role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in cancer

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is an inflammatory cytokine that serves many roles in inflammation and immunity; however, it is also involved in carcinogenesis. This is a review of the clinical and experimental data published on MIF and its role in various types of cancers such as glioblastomas, lung cancer, breast cancer, gastric cancer, melanoma, bladder cancer, and head and neck cancers. The goal of this review is to show MIFs role in various types of cancers. Data show that MIF is overexpressed in these malignancies in humans, and contributes to the deregulation of the cell cycle, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Clinical studies show that MIF overexpression in these types of tumors significantly decreases survival rate, and increases tumor aggression. There are multiple anti-MIF molecules that are currently being explored and investigations should be continued.