Biological characterization of human bone tumors. IV. Combined biochemical and histological analyses of different osteosarcomas.

A new technique was applied to the study of human osteosarcoma. Ten slices of 10 micron were cut serially from 2 X 2 X 6 mm shock frozen blocks of human osteosarcoma for chemical analysis. Before and after each series of 10 slices, one slice of 10 micron was separated for morphological analysis. Four different types of osteosarcoma were investigated: Case 1 was an atypical osteoblastic osteosarcoma, case 2 a small cell sclerosing osteosarcoma, case 3 a well-differentiated parosteal osteosarcoma grade I, and case 4 a highly malignant anaplastic osteosarcoma. Alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, beta-glucuronidase and proteolytic activities were analysed as well as matrix collagen and hexosamine, phosphorus (Pi and Po), protein, DNA, and water content. In accordance with the morphology, the obtained data illustrate the great heterogeneity of osteosarcomas. Although case 1, 2 and 3 all represent calcifying types of the tumor, characteristic differences exist with regard to the matrix and the degree of calcification. In contrast to these three, case 4 presents a noncalcified type of osteosarcoma whose matrix contains relatively high amounts of hexosamine and low amounts of collagen, whereas DNA and water contents are high. The data from the analysis of osteosarcoma were compared with previous results from the calf epiphyseal growth plate in order to define differences and similarities between the formation of tumor bone and the physiological formation of hard tissue.