Increased expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor during progression to hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM: To examine the presence of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) quantitatively in relation to neoplastic progression of hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HSCC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The presence of MIF was analysed by quantitative immunohistochemistry in sections of 81 HSCCs, and compared to 15 specimens of tumour-free epithelia (TF_E), 29 low-grade dysplasias (Low_D) and 25 high-grade dysplasias (High_D). In parallel, MIF expression was studied using Western blotting on a series of 19 fresh biopsies.

RESULTS

A significant increase in MIF staining intensity (mean optical density) was observed in carcinoma samples compared to TF_E (p<10(-6)), Low_D (p=0.0006) or High_D (p=0.0006). Immunohistochemical MIF positivity was significantly higher in HSCCs than in TF_E (p=0.00001) or Low_D (p=0.001). The percentage of MIF-immunopositive cells (labelling index) significantly decreased in parallel with an apparent loss of histological differentiation (p=0.003).

CONCLUSION

This study identified the presence of MIF as a parameter that positively correlates with neoplastic progression of HSCC and cell differentiation status.