Purpose: Increasing evidence suggests that lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2) contributes to tumor progression. However, the role of LOXL2 in cervical cancer still remains unclear.
Patients and methods: We used the TCGA database to analyze the expression of LOXL2 in cervical cancer and its role on survival. The effects of LOXL2 on cervical cancer metastasis and EMT were verified by transwell and wound healing assay. Western blot assay was used to detect the effect of LOXL2 on EMT-related gene expression. In addition, we used animal experiments to observe the role of LOXL2 on tumor genesis and metastasis in cervical cancer.
Results: Here we found that LOXL2 participates in epithelial–mesenchymal transition-related cervical cancer progression. LOXL2 ablation in cervical cancer cells inhibited cell metastatic ability, whereas LOXL2 overexpression promoted cell metastasis. In addition, more clinical data from TCGA revealed that LOXL2 is closely related to the prognosis and is highly expressed in highly malignant and metastatic cervical tumors.
Conclusion: Taken together, our findings established a pathophysiologic role and new function for LOXL2 in cervical cancer metastasis.
Keywords: cervical cancer, LOXL2, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, metastasis