title: Ganglioside GD2 as a therapeutic target for antibody-mediated therapy in patients with osteosarcoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Survival outcomes for patients with osteosarcoma have remained stagnant over the past 30 years. Targeting of ganglioside GD2, a glycosphingolipid on the cell surface of some tumors, with immunotherapy has resulted in improved outcomes for patients with neuroblastoma. In the current study, the expression pattern of GD2 was examined in osteosarcoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemistry was performed on osteosarcoma samples from patients at the time of initial biopsy, definitive surgery, and disease recurrence. The intensity and location of staining were scored. Cell-based enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay was performed on osteosarcoma cell lines to quantitate the level of GD2 expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-four osteosarcoma samples were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, including 8 samples from the initial biopsy, 28 samples from the definitive surgery, and 8 samples from the time of disease recurrence. GD2 was expressed on all 44 osteosarcoma samples. Osteosarcoma tissue obtained at the time of disease recurrence demonstrated a higher intensity of staining compared with samples obtained at initial biopsy and definitive surgery (P = .016). The majority of osteosarcoma cell lines expressed GD2 at higher levels than the neuroblastoma cell line BE(2)-C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ganglioside GD2 is highly expressed on osteosarcomas. Clinical trials are needed to assess the efficacy of targeting GD2 in patients with osteosarcoma.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: Marissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Linkowski
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tarim
authors.forename: Sajida
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piperdi
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sowers
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Geller
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gorlick
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001706:Biopsy; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D016499:Radioimmunotherapy
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005732:Gangliosides; C019403:ganglioside, GD2
keywords: antibody; ganglioside GD2; immunotherapy; osteosarcoma