LOXL2 and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: To explore the phenotypic expression and clinical significance of LOXL2 in ESCC progression, this study applied immunohistochemical techniques to detect LOXL2 expression levels in ESCC and paracancerous specimens from 37 patients with stage III disease, and the results showed that LOXL2 was significantly upregulated in esophageal squamous carcinoma tissues (Fig. 1a).