Livin and Bcl-2 expression in high-grade osteosarcoma.
OBJECTIVE
The evaluation of prognosis in patients with osteosarcoma is limited to clinical parameters. Although numerous molecular markers have been studied, none are currently in routine clinical use. The aim of this study was to determine if Livin and Bcl-2, acting as antiapoptotic proteins through different mechanisms, are expressed in osteosarcoma, and whether they can be used as prognostic markers in human osteosarcoma.


METHODS
Tumor specimens of 29 patients with high-grade central osteosarcoma, with complete clinical follow-up for a minimum of 5 years, were studied. The localization and distribution of Livin and Bcl-2 were investigated using immunohistochemistry. Results were correlated with the histological response to chemotherapy, 5-year disease-free and 5-year overall survival.


RESULTS
Bcl-2 was expressed only in the cytoplasm of 16/29 cases and there was no statistically significant correlation between expression and any of the studied parameters. Livin was detected in 17/29 cases, in the cytoplasm of all 17 and in the nucleus of only 3 cases. Nuclear expression was significantly correlated with a decreased overall survival (P < 0.0002) compared with those patients without nuclear expression.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study indicate that Bc1-2 and Livin are highly expressed in osteosarcoma cells and that possibly, the evaluation of nuclear Livin expression might be a useful prognostic marker in osteosarcoma.
Nedelcu
T
T
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna General Hospital, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
Kubista
B
B
Koller
A
A
Sulzbacher
I
I
Mosberger
I
I
Arrich
F
F
Trieb
K
K
Kotz
R
R
Toma
C D
CD
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000378:metabolism*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary; D011379:Prognosis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015996:Survival Rate
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; C419866:BIRC7 protein, human; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2