Expression and therapeutic potential of macrophage migration inhibitory factor and CD74 in ovarian cancer

Purpose of Investigation: To evaluate macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and CD74 expression in ovarian cancer, and to explore whether these expression levels correlate with clinicopathologic parameters. Materials and Methods: A total of 151 tissue samples were collected from May 2009 through May 2015. The collected samples included ten normal ovaries, 41 benign epithelial ovarian tumors, 38 borderline tumors, and 62 malignant epithelial ovarian tumors. CD74 and MIF expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry and a retrospective study was conducted. Results: Immunohistochemical analysis showed that MIF and CD74 expression was significantly higher in ovarian tumors, including ovarian cancer, than in normal ovary tissues. Furthermore, high MIF expression was correlated with lymph node metastasis (p = 0.048) and ovary surface invasion (p = 0.039). Conclusion: The present findings suggest that co-expression of MIF and CD74 in ovarian cancer is associated with poor clinical parameters and may serve as a therapeutic target for the treatment of ovarian cancer

Ovarian tumor; CD74; Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF); Immunohistochemistry

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