Association of the genetic variants (-794 CATT5-8 and-173 G > C) of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) with higher soluble levels of MIF and TNFα in women with breast cancer

Background Functional variants -173 G > C (rs755622) and -794CATT(5-8) (rs5844572) MIF gene have been associated with the risk in several types of cancer, as well as with the increase of soluble levels of MIF and TNF alpha. However, in previous studies contradictory and uncertain results have been presented on the implication of MIF polymorphisms with the association in cancer, specifically in breast cancer (BC). We investigated whether the variants are associated with the susceptibility to develop BC and the soluble levels of MIF and TNF alpha in women with BC from western Mexico. Materials and methods A total of 152 women with BC and 182 control subjects (CS) were enrolled in this study. The determination of genotypes -173 G > C and -794 CATT(5-8) MIF polymorphisms was performed by PCR-RFLP and PCR, respectively. In addition, the soluble levels of MIF and TNF alpha in both studied groups were quantified by ELISA and MILLIPLEX assay, respectively. Results The most frequent allele found in BC was the G (74.3%) and 6 (54%) in the variants -173G > C and -794 CATT(5-8), respectively, without significant differences in both groups. Nevertheless, the women with BC carriers -173*C and -794CATT(7) have higher levels of MIF in comparison with CS. An increase of MIF (BC: 11.1 ng/mL vs CS: 5.2 ng/mL, P < .001) and TNF alpha (BC: 24.9 ng/mL vs CS: 9.9 pg/mL, P .001) was found. Conclusion The functional variants of MIF are not genetic susceptibility markers for BC. Nevertheless, the alleles -173*C and -794CATT(7) are associated with the increase of MIF circulating in women with BC.