Expression of growth factors and their receptors in human osteosarcomas. Immunohistochemical detection of epidermal growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor and their receptors: its correlation with proliferating activities and p53 expression.

The expression of both epidermal growth factor (EGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and of their receptors (EGFR and PDGFR) was immunohistochemically examined in 37 cases of osteosarcoma. Furthermore, immunostaining for p53 protein and Ki-67 antigen by MIB-1 was carried out and compared with the above results. EGFR (81%) expressed more often than EGF (51%) and the expression of EGF and EGFR, and PDGF and PDGFR were recognized in 49% and 38%, respectively. In eleven cases (30%), the expression of both growth factors and their receptors was combined. Anaplastic osteosarcoma showed higher MIB-1 index than osteoblastic and fibroblastic subtypes (P < 0.05). High grade osteosarcomas (G3 and G4) revealed higher MIB-1 index compared with low grade tumors (G1 and G2). PDGF positive tumors (MIB-1 index: 20.0) showed significantly higher proliferation compared with PDGF negative tumors (MIB-1 index: 6.5) (P < 0.01). Five out of 37 cases (13.5%) showed positive immunoreaction for p53. There was no correlation of p53 status with MIB-1 index and the expression of growth factors or their receptors. Our results suggest that PDGF expression may be an important mediator of cell proliferation control, via an autocrine mechanism, in human osteosarcoma.