Reduction of LOX- and LOXL2-mRNA expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

Background: Besides other molecular functions, the lysyl oxidase gene (LOX) has been assumed and shown to have a tumor suppressive function in vitro and in vivo. The cancer-related functions of both LOX and LOXL2 have not yet been investigated in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC).

Materials And Methods: We examined the mRNA levels of LOX and LOXL2 in ten malignantly transformed cell lines and sixteen malignant tissue samples of different graded and staged HNSCC by RT-PCR.