Association of genetic polymorphisms in MIF with breast cancer risk in Chinese women

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has been reported to associate with increased cancer risk in several cancers. However, the role of MIF in breast cancer (BC) susceptibility remains unknown. For the first time, we conducted a case–control study to assess the potential association of three common MIF gene variants (rs755622, rs1803976, rs11548059) with BC susceptibility in Chinese women. Total 560 breast cancer patients and 583 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were recruited from Northwest China, and the DNA was genotyped by Sequenom MassARRAY. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were computed to estimate the associations. We found that C/G, C/C, and C/G–C/C genotype carriers in MIF rs755622 have a significantly increased risk of BC (C/G vs. G/G: OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.07–1.75, P = 0.014; C/C vs. GG: OR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.06–3.79, P = 0.029; C/G–C/C vs. G/G: OR = 1.42 95% CI = 1.11–1.80, P = 0.004). Further analyses indicate that the BC risk is associated with Ki-67 status, and the rs755622 polymorphism increases breast cancer risk among elder patients (≥49 years). There is no association between BC risk and other two polymorphisms (rs1803976 and rs11548059) by overall analysis and stratified analysis. In conclusion, MIF rs755622 polymorphism increases BC susceptibility in Chinese population, especially among elder patients.