Expression of c-kit in human osteosarcoma and its relevance as a prognostic marker
- 1Clinical Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- 2Department of Orthopaedics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Correspondence to: Dr Irene Sulzbacher Clinical Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; irene. sulzbacher{at}meduniwien.ac.at
- Accepted 22 September 2006
- Published Online First 3 October 2006
Abstract
Aims: To examine the prognostic relevance of c-kit expression in human osteosarcomas and to evaluate the mutation status in exon 9 and exon 11 of the c-kit gene.
Methods: c-kit expression was examined in 100 human osteosarcomas by immunohistochemistry using paraffin embedded tumour tissues, and capillary sequencing of genomic DNA was performed to search for mutations in exons 9 and 11 of the c-kit gene.
Results: 20 osteosarcomas showed c-kit expression ranging from 5% to 90% (mean 5.9%; SD 16.74%). Furthermore, DNA sequences of exon 9 and exon 11 of the c-kit gene were not altered in these tumours. Overall and disease free survival analysis did not reveal any differences between patients with osteosarcoma with c-kit expression and those with c-kit negative tumours.
Conclusions: C-kit expression is not a prognostic marker in patients with osteosarcoma. The protein expression is not linked to mutations in exon 9 or exon 11 of the c-kit gene. Therefore, these exons may not function as targets for treatment modalities based on the suppression of c-kit tyrosine kinase activity.
- GIST, gastrointestinal stroma tumour
- PDGF, platelet derived growth factor
- PDGFRA, platelet derived growth factor receptor alpha
Footnotes
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Published Online First 3 October 2006
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Competing interests: None.
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The procedures followed in this study were in accordance with the guidelines of the human ethics committee of the Medical University of Vienna.
