title: Expression of platelet-derived growth factor-alpha receptor in human osteosarcoma is not a predictor of outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to examine the prognostic relevance of platelet-derived growth factor-α receptor (PDGFRA) expression in human osteosarcomas and to evaluate the mutation status of exon 12 and exon 18 of the PDGFRA gene.
  
  
  METHODS
  PDGFRA expression was examined in 100 human osteosarcomas by immunohistochemistry using paraffin embedded tumour tissues, and capillary sequencing of genomic DNA was performed to search for mutations in exons 12 and 18 of the PDGFRA gene.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-six osteosarcomas showed PDGFRA expression ranging from 4% to 90% (mean 40%, median 37.5%, SD 27.11%). Furthermore, DNA sequence of exon 12 and exon 18 of the PDGFRA gene were not altered in 40 tumours with high PDGFRA expression. Overall and disease-free survival analysis did not reveal any differences between osteosarcoma patients with high PDGFRA expression and patients with low PDGFRA expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The protein expression is not linked to mutations in exon 12 or exon 18 of PDGFRA gene. Therefore, treatment modalities based on the suppression of PDGFRA tyrosine kinase activity may need further investigation. PDGFRA expression is not a prognostic marker for osteosarcoma patients.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. irene.sulzbacher@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sulzbacher
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Birner
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dominkus
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pichlhofer
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Mazal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D002648:Child; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha