Neuropilin-2 expression affects the increased vascularization and is a prognostic factor in osteosarcoma.

Journal article

Osteosarcoma is a malignant bone tumor characterized by hypervascularity. Neuropilins (NRPs), which is expressed by human tumor cells, is known to be a potent receptor for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). We examined NRPs mRNA expression in 30 osteosarcomas. The osteosarcomas with NRP2 expression (n=24) showed a significantly increased vascularity (P<0.0014, Mann-Whitney U test). Osteosarcomas with NRP2 showed significantly poorer prognosis than those without NRP2 (P=0.016, Wilcoxon's test). These results suggest that NRP acts as a VEGF-amplifier in a paracrine or autocrine manner in the osteosarcoma. NRP2 expression cooperatively promotes angiogenesis and growth in osteosarcomas with VEGF expression.

Authors: Handa, A; Tokunaga, T; Tsuchida, T; Lee, Y; Kijima, H

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: International journal of oncology
• Volume: 17
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 291-295
• Publication date: 2000-08-01
• EISSN: 1791-2423
• ISSN: 1019-6439
• Language: English
• Keywords: Humans; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Survival Rate; Bone Neoplasms; Neovascularization, Pathologic; Neoplasm Proteins; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Transplantation, Heterologous; Receptors, Growth Factor; RNA, Messenger; Prognosis; Neuropilin-1; Osteosarcoma; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor