Figure 6

MIF is overexpressed in breast cancer tissue. (a-f) Immunohistochemical stainings of MIF protein expression on a tissue microarray (TMA) of human breast cancer tissue specimens. Representative stainings applying a MIF antibody are shown. (a, b) Normal breast epithelia with moderate MIF protein expression (IRS = 4). (c, d) Invasive breast tumour with strong MIF protein expression (IRS = 8). (e, f) Samples of invasive mamma carcinoma were used as positive and negative control. For negative control, the primary antibody was omitted. Original magnifications: 100× for a, c, e, f; 400× for b, d. (g) Box plot analysis illustrating the distribution of MIF protein expression in normal breast tissue and breast cancer tissue. The y axis indicates the IRS of cytoplasmic MIF protein staining in normal (n = 35) and breast cancer tissue (n = 175) analysed on the TMA. Median MIF expression was found to be increased in human breast tumours (median IRS = 8) compared to normal breast epithelia (median IRS = 6). Horizontal lines: group medians; boxes: 25–75% quartiles; vertical lines: range and minimum.