Expression and Clinical Significance of Heparanasein Osteosarcoma / 대한정형외과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study examined the expression of heparanase in osteosarcomas and evaluated its prognostic value. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The immunohistochemical expression of heparanase from 51 osteosarcoma tissues was examined, and the correlations between the heparanase expression level and the clinicopathological factors were evaluated. RESULTS: Heparanase over-expression was observed in 37 tissue samples. There was a correlation between the heparanase expression level and a poor chemotherapeutic response, metastasis and poor survival rate. Multivariate analyses revealed that heparanase over-expression was a significant independent risk factor for a distant metastasis of an osteosarcoma. Among the 46 patients who underwent an adequate wide resection, there was a correlation between the heparanase expression level and recurrence. The 5-year survival rate was 83.8% for patients with heparanase negative tumors, and 46.9% for those with heparanase over-expression. Multivariate analysis using the Cox regression model revealed the heparanase expression level to be an independent prognostic indicator. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that heparanase expression might play an important role in local recurrence and metastasis, and might be a biological marker of the prognostic significance in osteosarcoma patients.