Macrophage migration inhibitory factor predicts an unfavorable outcome after transarterial chemoembolization for hepatic malignancies

TY - JOUR

T1 - Macrophage migration inhibitory factor predicts an unfavorable outcome after transarterial chemoembolization for hepatic malignancies

AU - Wirtz, Theresa H

AU - Loosen, Sven H

AU - Schulze-Hagen, Max

AU - Gorgulho, Joao

AU - Kandler, Jennis

AU - Joerdens, Markus

AU - Demir, Münevver

AU - Mohr, Raphael

AU - Bruners, Philipp

AU - Kuhl, Christiane

AU - Trautwein, Christian

AU - Berres, Marie-Luise

AU - Tacke, Frank

AU - Luedde, Tom

AU - Roderburg, Christoph

N1 - © 2021 The Authors. Clinical and Translational Science published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.

PY - 2021/9

Y1 - 2021/9

N2 - Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a therapeutic option for patients with intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or metastatic liver cancers. Identifying those patients who particularly benefit from TACE remains challenging. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) represents is an inflammatory protein described in patients with liver cancer, but no data on its prognostic relevance in patients undergoing TACE exist. Here, we evaluate MIF serum concentrations as a potential biomarker in patients undergoing TACE for primary and secondary hepatic malignancies. MIF serum concentrations were measured by multiplex immunoassay in 50 patients (HCC: n = 39, liver metastases: n = 11) before and 1 day after TACE as well as in 51 healthy controls. Serum concentrations of MIF did not differ between patients and healthy controls. Interestingly, in the subgroup of patients with larger tumor size, significantly more patients had increased MIF concentrations. Patients with an objective tumor response to TACE therapy showed comparable concentrations of serum MIF compared to patients who did not respond. MIF concentrations at day 1 after TACE were significantly higher compared to baseline concentrations. Importantly, baseline MIF concentrations above the optimal cutoff value (0.625 ng/ml) turned out as a significant and independent prognostic marker for a reduced overall survival (OS) following TACE: patients with elevated MIF concentrations showed a significantly reduced median OS of only 719 days compared to patients below the cutoff value (median OS: 1430 days, p = 0.021). Baseline MIF serum concentrations are associated with tumor size of intrahepatic malignancies and predict outcome of patients with liver cancer receiving TACE.

AB - Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a therapeutic option for patients with intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or metastatic liver cancers. Identifying those patients who particularly benefit from TACE remains challenging. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) represents is an inflammatory protein described in patients with liver cancer, but no data on its prognostic relevance in patients undergoing TACE exist. Here, we evaluate MIF serum concentrations as a potential biomarker in patients undergoing TACE for primary and secondary hepatic malignancies. MIF serum concentrations were measured by multiplex immunoassay in 50 patients (HCC: n = 39, liver metastases: n = 11) before and 1 day after TACE as well as in 51 healthy controls. Serum concentrations of MIF did not differ between patients and healthy controls. Interestingly, in the subgroup of patients with larger tumor size, significantly more patients had increased MIF concentrations. Patients with an objective tumor response to TACE therapy showed comparable concentrations of serum MIF compared to patients who did not respond. MIF concentrations at day 1 after TACE were significantly higher compared to baseline concentrations. Importantly, baseline MIF concentrations above the optimal cutoff value (0.625 ng/ml) turned out as a significant and independent prognostic marker for a reduced overall survival (OS) following TACE: patients with elevated MIF concentrations showed a significantly reduced median OS of only 719 days compared to patients below the cutoff value (median OS: 1430 days, p = 0.021). Baseline MIF serum concentrations are associated with tumor size of intrahepatic malignancies and predict outcome of patients with liver cancer receiving TACE.

U2 - 10.1111/cts.13033

DO - 10.1111/cts.13033

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 33787014

VL - 14

SP - 1853

EP - 1863

JO - CTS-CLIN TRANSL SCI

JF - CTS-CLIN TRANSL SCI

SN - 1752-8054

IS - 5

ER -