J Korean Orthop Assoc.  2003 Sep;38(5):519-525.

The Clinical Significance of VEGF and TGF-beta Expression in Osteosarcoma

• Jung ST
• Moon ES
• Kim YU
• Kim SS
• Kim GJ
• Kim YK

Abstract

INTRODUCTION
The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta ) is a multipotent glycoprotein that has been implicated in tumor development. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is an endothelial-specific mitogen that is overexpressed in various malignancies, is believed to be a potent regulator of angiogenesis. Osteosarcoma was examined to determine firstly, if VEGF and the TGF-beta isoform were overexpressed in this sarcoma, and secondly, if the degree of expression might represent a significant biologic predictor for disease-specific survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Selected paraffin-embedded tissues of surgical specimens from 25 patients of prechemotherapy case with osteosarcoma, who were treated between 1995 and 2001 were stained with rabbit polyclonal anti-VEGF and TGF-beta isoform antibodies. RESULTS: The majority of high-grade osteosarcomas in this study had a high intensity TGF-beta 2, - 3 and VEGF expression levels. The three in 5 patients who died of the disease had a high VEGF expression level. However VEGF expression was only independent predictor of overall survival. CONCLUSION: Further studies about TGF-beta and VEGF may provide useful information for understanding of pathophysiology of osteosarcoma.

Keyword

Osteosarcoma; Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta ); Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF); Immunohistochemistry

MeSH Terms

Antibodies
Glycoproteins
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Osteosarcoma*
Sarcoma
Transforming Growth Factor beta*
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*
Antibodies
Glycoproteins
Transforming Growth Factor beta
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A