SHORT REPORT

An immunohistochemical analysis to evaluate an inverse correlation between Runx2/Cbfa1 and NFB in human osteosarcoma

V B Andela¹, F Siddiqui², A Groman³ and R N Rosier²

¹ The James P Wilmot Cancer Center, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue Box 665, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
² The Department of Orthopaedics, Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center
³ The Department of Biostatistics, University of Rochester Medical Center

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr V B Andela
University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue Box 665, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA; v_andela{at}yahoo.com

Background: Dominant negative inhibition of nuclear factor B (NFB) signalling activity in a human osteosarcoma cell line (Saos2) results in malignant reversion and the induction of the osteoblast differentiating transcription factor, Runx2/Cbfa1. This observation suggests that there is an inverse relation between a transcription factor associated with malignant progression and chemoresistance (NFB) and an osteoblast differentiating transcription factor (Runx2/Cbfa1).

Aims: To assess and correlate Runx2/Cbfa1 and NFB (p65) immunoreactivity in human osteosarcoma.

Methods: Runx2/Cbfa1 and NFB (p65) immunoreactivity was assessed on 11 paraffin wax embedded archival specimens of human primary osteosarcoma by standard immunohistochemical methods and scored on a scale of 0–3. A Pearson correlation analysis between Runx2/Cbfa1 and NFB (p65) scores was established.

Results: Runx2/Cbfa1 was expressed constitutively in all pathology specimens of human osteosarcoma. Of note, a chondroblastic osteosarcoma showed the highest Runx2/Cbfa1 immunoreactivity. A Pearson correlation did not support an inverse correlation between Runx2/Cbfa1 and NFB (p65) scores (r = 0.57) in human osteosarcoma.

Conclusion: Runx2/Cbfa1 immunoreactivity does not inversely correlate with NFB immunoreactivity, and thus cannot serve as an indirect measure of NFB activity or an independent predictive or prognostic indicator.

Abbreviations: NFB, nuclear factor B; Rb, retinoblastoma protein

Keywords: differentiation; nuclear factor B; osteosarcoma; Runx2/Cbfa1; transformation

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