Influence of Lysyl oxidase Polymorphisms in Cancer Risk: An Updated Meta-analysis

Clinicopathological and prognostic value of lysyl oxidase expression in gastric cancer: a systematic review, meta-analysis and bioinformatic analysis

The association between the expression of Lysyl oxidase (LOX) and its clinicopathological parameters and prognosis in patients with gastric cancer (GC) is still disputed. We performed this meta-analysis and bioinformatics analysis to clarify the relationship between the expression and methylation level of LOX with its clinicopathological parameters and prognostic value. We applied odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval to study the associations between LOX expression and clinicopathological parameters and overall survival (OS) in GC patients. In addition, association analysis of promoter methylation levels and expression of LOX with its prognostic value was performed using the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and four Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets. The PRISMA 2020 checklist was used to guide the data extraction and analysis. This meta-analysis includes seven clinical studies with a total of 1435 GC patients. LOX expression was related to lymph node metastasis and tumor distant metastasis in GC patients, but not to gender, tumor differentiation, Lauren classification, or tumor depth of invasion. Patients with GC grouped in high-expression of LOX had a much worse OS than those in low-expression. In addition, TCGA and four GEO datasets with 1279 samples were included in the bioinformatics analysis. The bioinformatics analysis showed that patients with high LOX levels had poor OS; low levels of methylation at some cg sites in the LOX gene were strongly related to poor OS and PFS; and methylation levels of LOX are negatively correlated with advanced tumor stage. The conclusion from comprehensive DNA methylation and gene expression analysis supports LOX as a specific diagnostic and prognosis biomarker in GC. LOX expression was related to lymph node metastasis, tumor distant metastasis and poor prognosis in GC. Low methylation levels were related to advanced tumor stage and poor prognosis in GC. Integrative analysis supports LOX as a specific diagnostic and prognosis biomarker in GC.

Fibrosis in Mesothelioma: Potential Role of Lysyl Oxidases

Immunotherapies (such as checkpoint inhibitors) and standard chemotherapies (such as cisplatin) have limitations in the successful treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Fibrosis is the accumulation of collagen in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of tissues, making them denser than that of healthy tissues and thereby affecting drug delivery and immune cell infiltration. Moreover, fibrosis severely affects the patient's breathing and quality of life. The production of collagen and its assembly is highly regulated by various enzymes such as lysyl oxidases. Many solid tumors aberrantly express the family of lysyl oxidases (LOX/LOXL). This review examines how LOX/LOXLs were found to be dysregulated in noncancerous and cancerous settings, discusses their roles in solid tumor fibrosis and pathogenesis and explores the role of fibrosis in the development and poor clinical outcomes of patients with MPM. We examine the current preclinical status of drugs targeting LOX/LOXLs and how the incorporation of such drugs may have therapeutic benefits in the treatment and management of patients with MPM.

Serum Lysyl Oxidase Levels and Lysyl Oxidase Gene Polymorphism in Ovarian Cancer Patients of Eastern Indian Population

(1) Background: Lysyl oxidase (LOX) plays a dual role in carcinogenesis and studies show a higher risk of cancer in LOX G473A variants. The present study evaluated the pattern of LOX G473A polymorphism (rs1800449) and serum LOX levels in ovarian cancer patients. (2) Methods: Serum LOX levels were estimated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A polymorphism of rs1800449 of LOX gene was detected by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Selected samples were sequenced for external validation. (3) Results: A majority of study participants were from low socio-economic status. Serum LOX level was significantly higher in ovarian cancer patients as compared to control. Serum LOX level in early-stage ovarian cancer was significantly lower as compared to advanced stage (FIGO stage III & IV). Wild type GG genotype was used as reference. Genotypes AA were associated with a significant risk of epithelial ovarian cancer (OR 3.208; p value- 0.033). A allele of rs1800449 polymorphism of LOX gene, the odds ratio was 1.866 (95% Confidence Interval 1.112–3.16) p value = 0.017 (4) Conclusions: A allele of rs1800449 polymorphism of LOX gene presents an increased risk of ovarian cancer in East Indian population. Serum LOX levels could be a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of ovarian cancer.