Prognostic and Therapeutic Insights into MIF, DDT, and CD74 in Melanoma

Overview

Journal Oncotarget

Specialty Oncology

Date 2024 Jul 19

PMID 39028303

Authors

Caroline Naomi Valdez

Gabriela Athziri Sanchez-Zuno

Lais Osmani

Wael Ibrahim

Anjela Galan

Antonietta Bacchiocchi

Ruth Halaban

Rajan P Kulkarni

Insoo Kang

Richard Bucala

Thuy Tran

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) and its homolog D-dopachrome Tautomerase (DDT) have been implicated as drivers of tumor progression across a variety of cancers. Recent evidence suggests MIF as a therapeutic target in immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) resistant melanomas, however clinical evidence of MIF and particularly of DDT remain limited. This retrospective study analyzed 97 patients treated at Yale for melanoma between 2002-2020. Bulk-RNA sequencing of patient tumor samples from the Skin Cancer SPORE Biorepository was used to evaluate for differential gene expression of MIF, DDT, CD74, and selected inflammatory markers, and gene expression was correlated with patient survival outcomes. Our findings revealed a strong correlation between MIF and DDT levels, with no statistically significant difference across common melanoma mutations and subtypes. Improved survival was associated with lower MIF and DDT levels and higher CD74:MIF and CD74:DDT levels. High CD74:DDT and CD74:MIF levels were also associated with enrichment of infiltrating inflammatory cell markers. These data suggest DDT as a novel target in immune therapy. Dual MIF and DDT blockade may provide synergistic responses in patients with melanoma, irrespective of common mutations, and may overcome ICI resistance. These markers may also provide prognostic value for further biomarker development.

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