LOX expression in primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma: correlation with prognostic parameters and outcome

Lysyl oxidase (LOX) is an extracellular matrix-remodeling enzyme that plays important roles in tumor development and progression. To evaluate the prognostic value of LOX levels in primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma, we performed an immunohistochemical analysis using 233 tissue biopsy specimens from as many patients. We found that the extent of immunohistochemical LOX staining correlated inversely with the clinicopathological features and survival. High LOX expression correlated with decreases in 5-year survival, overall survival, distant metastasis-free survival and disease-free survival (p < 0.05). Cox regression analysis confirmed that LOX was a significant prognostic indicator of increased risk of 5-year mortality for all patients (hazard ratio [HR], 1.670; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.033–2.701 [p < .005]). Higher LOX expression was also an independent predictor of poor prognosis in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. These findings suggest LOX may be a new biomarker predictive of NPC prognosis and may also be a useful treatment target.