Alternatively spliced lysyl oxidase-like 4 isoforms have a pro-metastatic role in cancer.

We previously found LOXL4 to be alternatively spliced in an anatomic site-specific manner in tumors involving the serosal cavities. LOXL4 splice variants were predominantly or exclusively expressed in effusion specimens from ovarian and breast carcinoma patients, and were absent in primary carcinomas. In the present study, LOXL4 full-length or splice variants were overexpressed in ES-2 and MDA-MB-231 cells and their invasive and metastatic potential and microRNA expression profile were evaluated. ES-2 cells were further injected into SCID mice ovaries and the extent of tumor progression and metastases formation were compared. We show that both splice variants have a positive effect on the metastatic potential of cells in vitro and on tumor progression in vivo. In contrast, full-length LOXL4 is not pro-metastatic, and may even be considered as a tumor suppressor. In addition, we show that LOXL4 is a possible splicing target of the oncogenic splicing factors SRSF1 and hnRNP A1. In conclusion, our results point to a significant role for LOXL4 alternative splicing in tumor progression.