Comparison of VEGF, MVD and p53 expression in patients with local and metastatic osteosarcoma

Objective:To investigate the expression of VEGF and p53 in osteosarcoma and their relationships with MVD, to address the role of VEGF, p53 mutation and MVD in the progression and metastases of osteosarcoma. Methods:The specimens from 57 patients with primary local osteosarcoma and 27 patients with osteosarcoma that were metastatic at the time of diagnosis were stained immunohistochemically for VEGF and p53, MVD were counted, the results were comparatively analyzed.Results:The positive expression rates of VEGF and MVD in group of patients who presented with metastases were higher than that in group of those who presented with a local osteosarcoma (P=0.0494, P=0.0302). P53 expression did not differ in the two groups (P0.05). The tumors in the metastatic group tended to be larger than those in the local group(P=0.0350).MVD was significantly higher in the VEGF or p53 positive tumors than that in the negative ones(P=0.0125, P=0.0036).The coincident rate of VEGF and p53 expression was 51.2%. MVD was the highest in VEGF and p53 positive co-expression tumors, and was the lowest in the VEGF and p53 negative tumors, differences were significant(P=0.0077). Conclusions: Both VEGF and p53 mutation irritate angiogenesis in osteosarcoma. However, as an event happened prior to the metastasis of osteosarcoma, p53 has no direct potential on angiogenesis in osteosarcoma. VEGF and MVD detections have clinical potential for predicting metastasis in osteosarcoma.