Abstract: Cancer is one of the leading causes of human death and an important obstacle to increasing human life expectancy. Effective screening and early diagnosis and treatment of cancer have been a major clinical challenge, and it is urgent to identify new biomarkers or molecular targets to improve the diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients. Lysyl oxidase like 1 (LOXL1), as a secreted copper-dependent amine oxidase, is widespread in many cell types. LOXL1 can maintain the steady state of elastin, participate in the remodeling of extracellular matrix, and play an important role in the development of the body, tissue damage, fibrotic diseases and cancer. LOXL1 has a wide range of biological functions, and its abnormal function is the basis for many clinical diseases. It has been shown that LOXL1 protein is down-regulated and can inhibit tumor growth in human renal cell carcinoma, bladder cancer and colorectal cancer, and up-regulated in human salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, lung adenocarcinoma, pleural mesothelioma, glioma and gastric cancer, suggesting that LOXL1 protein has a bidirectional role in inhibition or promotion in different types of cancer. This paper mainly reviews the structure and function of LOXL1 protein and its relationship with cancer development, and further discusses the application prospects of LOXL1 protein in cancer research to provide a theoretical basis and reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment of cancer.