LIF and cancer: The negative correlation between LIF and lymphocyte infiltration, where LIF secretion from the tumour microenvironment is increased in patients with low tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) is a significant finding, given that high lymphocyte infiltration has previously been associated with improved patient outcome in SCC and many other cancer types TILs are thought to play a pivotal role in tumour control through activation of the host anti-tumour immune response [47].