We hypothesized that
lysyl oxidase (LOX) contributes to the formation of fibrotic focus (FF) in association with
inflammation and serves a significant role in breast
carcinogenesis. In the present study, the association between the expression of LOX family members and FF with regards to with
inflammation was analyzed, and the prognostic significance of LOX and FF in
breast cancer was investigated. Immunohistochemical staining for LOX, LOX-like
protein (LOXL) 1, LOXL2 and LOXL3 was performed in primary
breast cancer tissues. The status of FF within the
tumor was assessed, including size and grade. Levels of inflammatory markers, intratumoral and peritumoral lymphocyte infiltration were also evaluated. The clinicopathological characteristics were evaluated from the medical records of patients. In the present study, the expression of LOX family members was not associated with the presence of FF. FF was identified to be associated with intratumoral and peritumoral
inflammation,
tumor stage, larger
tumor size,
lymph node metastasis, high histologic grade, and p53 expression. LOX and LOXL3 were associated with intratumoral, and peritumoral
inflammation. Furthermore, LOXL1 was associated with intratumoral
inflammation and
interleukin-4. In addition, LOX was associated with cluster of differentiation 8+ T cells. LOXL3 was associated with expression of ER and PR, and molecular subtype. In the survival analysis, overall survival time was statistically significantly longer in the FF-negative compared with that in the FF-positive group. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that FF and the expression of LOX family members were associated with
inflammation in
breast cancer. FF was associated with poor prognostic markers of
breast cancer. Further studies are required to clarify the mechanisms underlying the association between the LOX family, FF and
inflammation in
breast cancer.