GDF15 and neoplasm: Serum MIC-1 levels are significantly lower in patients with prostate cancer after surgical resection of the tumor, and they return to high levels upon recurrence.[58,59] Patients survived on average 15.62 ± 2.44 months with MIC-1 levels ≥ 1932 ng/ml, compared to 18.66 ± 2.43 months in patients with low levels of MIC-1/GDF-15.