Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is overexpressed in numerous tumors and has been correlated with the development of breast cancer, but the mechanism(s) have largely remained unknown. Suppression of autophagy has now been unraveled as a pivotal mechanism underlying MIF's role in breast cancer. Strikingly, the study demonstrates that MIF phenocopies the anti-autophagic effects of steroid receptor coactivator-3 (SRC-3), a known oncogene, which in turn drives MIF gene expression.
- Omar El Bounkari
- Jürrgen Bernhagen