Differential Expression of CXCR4 in Conventional High-grade and Low-grade Central Osteosarcoma and Its Prognostic Implications / 대한골관절종양학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The chemokine receptor CXCR4 has been reported to be aberrantly expressed in human cancer and has been shown to participate in cancer metastasis. We compared the expression of CXCR4 in conventional high-grade and low-grade central osteosarcomas, and determined if an association between CXCR4 expression and prognosis could be made. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed the immunohistochemistry for CXCR4 in a total of 63 patients with osteosarcoma and determined the relationships according to the clinicopathologic variables and overall survival rates. RESULTS: CXCR4 was detected in 76.3% of conventional high-grade osteosarcoma patients and in 36% of low-grade central osteosarcomas. Diffuse expression was noted in 47.4% of the high-grade osteosarcomas and all low-grade cases were focal positive. CXCR4 expression was significantly correlated with histologic grade (p<0.0001). While overall survival rate was reduced significantly with increased CXCR4 expression (p=0.0058), higher histologic grade (p<0.0001), and younger age (p=0.0140), survival rate did not correlate with gender, tumor size, or AJCC stage. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that CXCR4 expression is associated with higher-grade tumors and with poor prognosis for osteosarcoma patients.