Provided are methods and compositions for the detection, prevention and treatment of primary and metastatic neoplastic diseases, including, but not limited to, human carcinomas, in particular head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. In particular, an antibody and antigen-binding fragment as well as variants thereof are provided that bind to an epitope of LOXL4 in the cytoplasm and/or on the cell surface of tumor cells, which are useful in the diagnosis and especially the treatment of a tumor which expresses LOXL4.
