Selective expression of lysyl oxidase (LOX) in the stromal reactions of broncho-pulmonary carcinomas

S. Peyrol1, F. Galateau-Salle2, M. Raccurt3, C. Gleyzal4 and P. Sommer4

1Common Center for Electron Miscrocopy, University Claude Bernard, Lyon, France,
2Department of Pathology, Hospital-University Center, Caen, France, 3University Claude Bernard, Campus La Doua, Lyon, France and 4Institute of Biology and Chemistry of Proteins, National Center for the Scientific Research (CNRS), Lyon, France

Offprint requests to: Pascal Sommer, Institut de Biologie et Chimie des Protéines, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 7 passage du Vercors, 69367 Lyon Cedex 07, France. Fax: (33) 4 72 72 26 64. e-mail: p.sommer@ibcp.fr

Summary. Lysyl oxidase (LOX) is the extracellular enzyme that initiates the main pathway of collagen and elastin cross-linking. LOX has also been correlated with the ras recision gene, a putative tumour suppressor isolated from revertants of ras-transformed fibroblasts. The present study investigates the potential correlation of LOX-dependent matrix protein cross-linking in the stromal reaction of lung carcinomas, with reference to the architecture of the main stromal reactions accompanying the neoplastic breast tissues. A strong LOX expression was associated with the hypertrophic scar-like stromal reaction found at the front of tumour progression in squamous carcinomas, adenocarcinomas, large cell carcinomas, or at sites of initial extense in bronchiolo-alveolar carcinomas. In contrast, little or no LOX expression was found within the stromal reaction of invasive carcinomas, small cell carcinomas, and neuro-endocrine carcinomas. The significance of LOX expression and of the stromal reaction are discussed, in light of data that associate LOX expression with tumours displaying a rather good prognosis. Histol. Histopathol. 15, 1127-1135 (2000)

Key words: Lysyl-oxidase, Bronchopulmonary carcinoma, Stromal reaction, Collagen, Myofibroblasts


DOI: 10.14670/HH-15.1127