To investigate the role of LIF in breast cancer, the mRNA levels of LIF, LIFR and gp130 were measured in a panel of human breast cancer cell lines, including MDA-MB-231, HS578T, MDA-MB-468, MCF7, SK-Br-3, T47D and BT474 cells, by employing Taqman real-time PCR assays. The gene discussed is LIF; the disease is breast carcinoma.