Expression of PTEN and Caspase-3 in osteosarcoma

Objective: To study the expression of PTEN and Caspase 3 in osteosarcoma and their clinical significance.Method:PTEN and Caspase 3 were detected by S P immunohistochemical method in 38 cases of paraffin embedded section of osteosarcoma and 20 of osteochondroma.Result:The positive rate of PTEN in osteosarcoma was 55.3% and 90.0% in osteochondroma ( P =0.007).The positive rate of Caspase 3 in osteosarcoma was 52.6% and 85.0% in osteochondroma ( P =0.015). The expression of PTEN was correlated with Caspase 3 (r=0.418).PTEN was related with pulmonary metastasis instead of differentiation;Caspase 3 was related with both differentiation and pulmonary metastasis.Conclusion: PTEN and Caspase 3 may play an important role in the carcinogenesis of osteosarcoma and are correlated with osteosarcoma. The detection of them might be a guide for the early diagnosis and determinant of malignancy and prognosis in osteosarcoma.