Expression of bone morphogenetic protein and its receptors in osteosarcoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma.
BACKGROUND
Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) activity has been found in cases of malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) and osteosarcoma but only tumors in the latter category show evidence of ossification. The aim of this study was to try to understand this difference by examination of the distribution of BMP and its receptors (BMPR) for this bone inducing protein in these tumors.


METHODS
Sections of 11 osteosarcoma and 10 MFH were analyzed immunohistochemically for BMP and BMPRs by use of the avidin-biotin peroxidase method.


RESULTS
Nine out of 11 osteosarcoma cases (80.1%) showed positive staining for both BMP and BMPRs. Two cases of chondroblastic type osteosarcoma did not show any significant staining for BMP and BMPRs. In eight out of 10 MFH cases (80%) there was positive staining for BMP. No immunoreactivity for BMPRs was found in any case of MFH.


CONCLUSIONS
MFH does not express BMPRs and this may be the reason why-MFH tumors do not ossify, even in the presence of BMP.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan.
R
R
Mehdi
T
T
Shimizu
Y
Y
Yoshimura
H
H
Gomyo
K
K
Takaoka
D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D018219:Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism
D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor