Lysyloxidase-4 is a selectively expressed candidate diagnostic antigen in pancreatic cancer

Abstract

Lysyl oxidases (LOX) catalyze collagen and elastin cross-linking but also facilitate tumor genesis and progression. In this study, we used a monoclonal antibody directed against LOX like-4 (LOXL-4) on pancreatic cancer tissue specimens of 103 patients to examine its diagnostic and prognostic value. In 88.3% of pancreatic cancer specimens, LOXL-4 was detectable, whereas it could not be shown in benign oral mucosa control specimens. The level of LOXL-4 expression strongly correlated with T stage and lymph node status but not with occurrence of distant metastases or overall patient survival. These results substantially strengthen the existing immunohistochemical studies on LOXL-4 in different malignomas and clearly suggest a diagnostic value of LOXL-4 in pancreatic carcinoma and do contribute to the ongoing discussion about to what extent LOXL-4 might be a suitable marker in cancer diagnosis and progression.