LIF
Overview
LIF (Leukemia Inhibitory Factor) is a pleiotropic cytokine belonging to the IL-6 family. It signals through the JAK/STAT3 pathway and has roles in stem cell self-renewal, embryonic development, and immune regulation. In cancer, LIF can promote tumor growth and immune evasion. In extra-cranial malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT), LIF is focally deleted by chromosome-22 deletions that spare SMARCB1, placing it as a secondary alteration at the 22q12 locus.
Alterations observed in the corpus
- LIF is focally deleted by the only chromosome-22 deletions that spare SMARCB1 in extra-cranial MRT, along with NF2; these represent rare focal 22q12 deletions that do not target the canonical SMARCB1 locus PMID:26977886
Cancer types (linked)
- MRT (Malignant Rhabdoid Tumor): Focal LIF deletion by SMARCB1-sparing chromosome-22 deletions in a subset of 40 WGS extra-cranial MRT cases. PMID:26977886
Co-occurrence and mutual exclusivity
- LIF deletion co-occurs with NF2 deletion at the 22q12 locus in MRT cases where the chromosome-22 deletion spares SMARCB1. PMID:26977886
Therapeutic relevance
- No therapeutic implications described in the corpus.
Open questions
- Whether LIF loss at 22q12 has a functional tumor-suppressive role in MRT or is an incidental consequence of regional deletions targeting NF2 remains unresolved. PMID:26977886
Sources
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