Abstract: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is one of the most widely researched cytokines in recent years. Under physiological conditions, MIF mediates inflammation and immune response in embryonic development, tissues repair after trauma. Recently, MIF has also been proved to play a pivotal role during the development of gynecologic malignant tumors, such as cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer and so on, and it also has a close relationship with the malignant degree of tumors. MIF can activate a variety of signaling pathways, such as JNK/c-Jun and PI3K/Akt. MIF can accelerate the progression of malignant tumors through promoting cells proliferation, adhesion, metastasis, angiogenesis, immune suppression and so on. Studies have shown that inhibition of secretion and biological activity of MIF can effectively slow down or even reverse tumor development. MIF antagonist may be a new therapeutic target for tumors.

Key words: Macrophage migration-inhibitory factors, Genital neoplasms, female, JNK mitogen-activated protein kinases, 1-Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, Protein kinases, Signal transduction