Bone Tumor Tissue Research Articles

Telomerase activity and telomere length in primary and metastatic tumors from pediatric bone cancer patients.

The presence of telomerase activity has been analyzed in almost all tumor types and tumor-derived cell lines. However, there are very few studies that focus on the presence of telomerase activity in bone tumors, and most of them report analysis on very few samples or bone-derived cell lines. The objective of this study was to analyze the telomere length and telomerase activity in primary tumors and metastatic lesions from pediatric osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma patients. The presence of telomerase activity was analyzed by the telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay, and the telomere length was measured by Southern blot. Results were related to survival and clinical outcome. Telomerase activity was detected in 85% of the bone tumor metastases (100% Ewing's sarcomas and 75% osteosarcomas) but only in 12% of the primary tumors (11.1% osteosarcomas and 12.5% Ewing's sarcomas). Bone tumor tissues with telomerase activity had mean telomere lengths 3 kb shorter than those with no detectable telomerase activity (p = 0.041). The presence of telomerase activity was associated with survival (p = 0.009), and longer event-free survival periods were found in patients who lacked telomerase activity compared with those who had detectable telomerase activity levels in their tumor tissues (p = 0.037). The presence of longer telomeres in primary pediatric bone tumors than in metastases could be indicative of alternative mechanisms of lengthening of telomeres for their telomere maintenance rather than telomerase activity. Nevertheless, the activation of telomerase seems to be a crucial step in the malignant progression and acquisition of invasive capability of bone tumors.

Chromosomal imbalances detected in primary bone tumors by comparative genomic hybridization and interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization

We applied a combination of comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), to characterize the genetic aberrations in three osteosarcomas (OS) and one Ewing's sarcoma. CGH identified recurrent chromosomal losses at 10p14-pter and gains at 8q22.3-24.1 in OS. Interphase FISH allowed to confirm 8q gain in two cases. A high amplification level of 11q12-qter was detected in one OS. The Ewing's sarcoma showed gain at 1p32-36.1 as the sole chromosome alteration. These studies demonstrate the value of molecular cytogenetic methods in the characterization of recurrent genomic alterations in bone tumor tissue.

Bone Morphogenetic Protein in Bone Neoplasms: Comparison of Different Detection Methods

The presence of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) in 13 primary bone neoplasms was investigated with conventional bioassay method and immunohistochemically using antiserum against highly purified mixture of bovine BMPs as antibody. In conventional bioassay after implantation of lyophilized bone tumor tissues into mouse muscle pouches 9/13 samples turned out positive by radiography and 10/13 histologically. By immunohistochemical staining, using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase method, signs of BMPs could be verified in all cases investigated. Microscopical scoring showed the local concentration of BMPs to be especially high in sections from giant cell tumors when compared to other bone neoplasms.

Prostaglandin levels of primary bone tumor tissues correlate with peritumoral edema demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging

BACKGROUND Several reports have shown peritumoral edema accompanying primary bone tumors demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, the mechanism of this inflammatory reaction is still unclear. The authors postulated that the reaction was caused by some chemical mediators including prostanoids, because several investigators have observed that some types of bone tumors synthesize prostanoids. Therefore, the authors compared MRI findings and tumor prostaglandin (PG) levels. METHODS The subjects were 29 patients with primary bone tumor or tumor-like conditions: chondroblastoma (n = 5); chondrosarcoma, including rare variants (n = 8); giant cell tumor (n = 6); osteochondroma (n = 5); osteoblastoma (n = 2); Ewing's sarcoma (n = 2); and eosinophilic granuloma (n = 1). T1- and T2-weighted spin echo images were obtained in all but one patient before surgery. The tumor concentration of prostaglandin E2, 6-keto-PGF1α, and thromboxane B2 were measured by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS MRI distinctly showed bone marrow edema in 9 and soft tissue edema in 12 of the 28 patients examined. These findings were significantly correlated with the PG levels. Moreover, the PG levels were correlated with the histologic classifications (P < 0.001). In particular, the chondroblastomas showed prominent concentrations of PGs compared with other cartilaginous tumors or giant cell tumors. CONCLUSIONS Although peritumoral edema accompanying benign and malignant bone tumors is not necessarily related to one single pathophysiologic mechanism, these results suggest that PG production was an important cause of the inflammatory reaction that was revealed by MRI. Recognition of this phenomenon is advantageous not only for strict diagnostic purposes but also for understanding the characteristic features of individual primary bone tumors. Cancer 1997; 79:255-61. © 1997 American Cancer Society.

Prostaglandin levels of primary bone tumor tissues correlate with peritumoral edema demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging

Several reports have shown peritumoral edema accompanying primary bone tumors demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, the mechanism of this inflammatory reaction is still unclear. The authors postulated that the reaction was caused by some chemical mediators including prostanoids, because several investigators have observed that some types of bone tumors synthesize prostanoids. Therefore, the authors compared MRI findings and tumor prostaglandin (PG) levels. The subjects were 29 patients with primary bone tumor or tumor-like conditions: chondroblastoma (n = 5); chondrosarcoma, including rare variants (n = 8); giant cell tumor (n = 6); osteochondroma (n = 5); osteoblastoma (n = 2); Ewing's sarcoma (n = 2); and eosinophilic granuloma (n = 1). T1- and T2-weighted spin echo images were obtained in all but one patient before surgery. The tumor concentration of prostaglandin E2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, and thromboxane B2 were measured by radioimmunoassay. MRI distinctly showed bone marrow edema in 9 and soft tissue edema in 12 of the 28 patients examined. These findings were significantly correlated with the PG levels. Moreover, the PG levels were correlated with the histologic classifications (P < 0.001). In particular, the chondroblastomas showed prominent concentrations of PGs compared with other cartilaginous tumors or giant cell tumors. Although peritumoral edema accompanying benign and malignant bone tumors is not necessarily related to one single pathophysiologic mechanism, these results suggest that PG production was an important cause of the inflammatory reaction that was revealed by MRI. Recognition of this phenomenon is advantageous not only for strict diagnostic purposes but also for understanding the characteristic features of individual primary bone tumors.

Amplification of Both c‐myc and c‐raf‐1 Oncogenes in a Human Osteosarcoma

Fourteen human bone and soft part tumor tissues were screened by Southern blot hybridization using five oncogene probes (c‐myc, c‐K‐ras, c‐fos, c‐raf‐l, and N‐myc). Amplification of c‐myc was found in two osteosarcomas and one malignant fibrous histiocytoma. One of these osteosarcomas had amplified c‐raf‐1 gene. Rearrangement of the amplified gene was not observed. This is the first report of c‐raf‐1 amplification in human cancer tissues.

Feulgen DNA stainability of bone tumors after demineralization

Microspectrophotometric DNA analysis of archival bone tumor tissue is often impeded by previous acid demineralization, which destroys Feulgen DNA stainability. To find an alternative to acid for prospective DNA studies of bone tumors in tissue sections, Feulgen stainability of fresh osteosarcoma specimens after demineralization in neutral EDTA was investigated. The reliability of DNA analysis of weakly Feulgen-stained sections from archival tissue was also studied. Demineralization of four fresh specimens in EDTA slightly reduced Feulgen DNA stainability compared to nondemineralized preparations but did not affect the determination of ploidy level. Hydrolysis tests of one diploid and one hyperploid osteosarcoma showed that the staining relationship between control and tumor cells was not altered by EDTA pretreatment. For DNA studies of bone tumors requiring demineralization, EDTA offers a means of retaining nuclear Feulgen stainability. In 22 archival osteosarcoma specimens of varying Feulgen stainability, three different upper limits of light transmission (75, 85, and 95%) were applied to test the significance of background disturbances in relation to nuclear stain intensity. The relationship between the median total extinction of the control and tumor cell populations was not significantly affected by altering the upper transmission limit except in four poorly stained lesions. The control cells of these four specimens exhibited a median total extinction less than one-third of the maximum encountered. The results suggest that weakly stained archival specimens can be tested for selecting those appropriate for ploidy determination.

Morphological changes in osteosarcoma after chemotherapy--COSS 80.

Forty-five osteosarcomas were investigated by special methods such as preparation of undecalcified bone tumor tissue, imprint cytology, histochemistry, and quantitative analysis. The morphological regression grades and their relation to chemotherapy are reported by Salzer-Kuntschik et al. (1983). The results presented demonstrate that smaller osteosarcomas respond more favorably than larger tumors. The function of bone-tumor cells, e.g., osteoid production, trabecular tumor bone formation, and mineralization, seems to be more important for the sensitivity to chemotherapy than the cell polymorphism. The estimation of bone-tumor morphology in at least two total areas of the bone tumor is essential in borderline cases (grade III/grade IV). Imprint cytology is very helpful for rapid estimation of the effect of therapy and the demonstration of cellular polymorphism. At the moment, we are not able to determine the effect of chemotherapy from the first biopsy before starting chemotherapy.

Detection of Viral Antigens in Mouse and Rat Tumor Cells by Immunoelectron Microscopy Following Periodate-Lysine-Paraformaldehyde (PLP) Fixation

Recently, periodate-lysine-paraformaldehyde (PLP) fixation was reported for immunoelectron microscopy (1). In PLP fixation, carbohydrates are oxidized by periodate and cross-linked by lysine; paraformaldehyde stabilizes proteins and lipids. By using PLP fixation, intracytoplasmic type A viral antigens have been previously demonstrated by immunoperoxidase labeling (2). In the present study, PLP fixation has been applied for the detection of the same antigens in mouse mammary tumor culture cells by both immunoferritin and immunoperoxidase methods. Rabbit anti-intracytoplasmic type A virus serum (anti-A), kindly provided by Dr. M. Muller (3), rabbit anti-strain A mouse mammary tumor virus (anti-MMTV) and preimmune rabbit serum as control were used to detect viral antigens in cells of C3H/HeJ strain mouse mammary tumor culture. Attempts have been also made to demonstrate peroxidase labeling of type C virus particles in frozen sections of an SD-MSV-induced NZB rat bone tumor tissue by rabbit anti-MuLV serum.