gms | German Medical Science

Recently we could demonstrate mRNA over expression of LOXL4, a member of the LOX matrix amino oxidase family, in sqamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region. Overexpression significantly correlated with local rate of metastasis and higher tumour stage. Now we examined LOXL4 protein expression in head and neck carcinoma in a big collective of patients.

Paraffin slides of 233 primary tumours and 45 metastasis of overall 257 patients with invasive squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck region were stained with anti-LOXL4 antibody (polyclonal rabbit antibody). 30 mucosa probes from the oral cavity of healthy patients served as negative control.

In 216/233 primary tumours and in 44/45 lymphnode metastasis LOXL4 was detected. Tumours were localized in the oral cavity 13/14, in the oropharynx 148/158, in the hypopharynx 43/49 and in the larynx 12/12.

In contrast all probes of healthy mucosa from the oral cavity were LOXL4 negative. Specifity of LOXL4-antibody was therefore 100% and sensitivity was 92.7% for all primary tumours and 97.8% for lymphnode metastasis. A correlation of expression or intensity of expression to TNM-category, grading, localisation, age and gender was not found.

Our data shows that LOXL4 is expressed selectively in a high percentage and that the LOXL4 antibody is well suitable as a potential tumour marker in diagnostic use of head and neck carcinomas as well in primary tumours as in lymphnode metastasis.