In vitro evaluation of the effect of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) inhibition in the oral squamous cell carcinoma progression

• Grant number: 12/08575-0
• Support type: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Effective date (Start): September 01, 2012
• Effective date (End): November 30, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology
• Principal researcher: Marcos Brasilino de Carvalho
• Grantee: MARIANA BARBOSA DE SOUZA RIZZO
• Supervisor abroad: Robert A. Mitchell
• Home Institution: Hospital Heliópolis. Unidade de Gestão Assistencial I. Coordenadoria de Serviços de Saúde (CSS). Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Research place: University of Louisville (UofL), United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 11/03281-5 - Evaluation of expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) as prognostic marker in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma, BP.MS

Abstract

Patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma have high rates of recurrence and poor survival, and therapeutic advances of recent years were not enough to change this frame. In this setting, the study of molecules which have the potential to become target of therapies appears to be necessary. The MIF (Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor) protein is often found with high expression in tumor tissues compared to normal tissues and related between the prognostic factors of a range of malignancies, including hepatocellular, ovarian, esophageal, and also head and neck carcinomas. Moreover, its mechanisms of action such as induction of angiogenesis, cell proliferation and survival has already been demonstrated and allow to imply MIF as one of these potential targets molecules. The role of vitamin E as anti-tumor substance has been discussed and more studies on its biological action are still needed. Recently vitamin E has shown to inhibit MIF protein, and more investigation is needed addressing that interaction as a potential way for targeted therapy and chemoprevention. This study aims to evaluate the inhibition of MIF protein by vitamin E in cell lines of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC-15, SCC-4 and SCC-25), checking for possible changes in proliferation, migration and invasion of these cells. (AU)