Objective  This study aims to investigate the protein expression of CD133, CD117, and Ki-67 in human osteosarcoma tissues and explore their relationships with the clinico-pathological features and risk of osteosarcoma.

  Methods  Immunohistochemical method was used to examine the protein expression of CD133, CD117, and Ki-67 gene in the paraffin specimens of 55 and 20 cases of osteosarcoma and osteochondroma, respectively. SPSS17.0 statistical software was used to explore the relationships among the expressions of CD133, CD117, and Ki-67 gene and the biological behavior and prognosis of osteosarcoma. Test criterion: P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

  Results  The positive expression rates of CD133, CD117, and Ki-67 were significantly higher in the osteosarcoma tissues than in the benign osteochondroma tissues, and the differences were significant (P=0.016, P=0.008, and P < 0.001, respectively). The mean survival and metastasis time were shorter in the CD133 or Ki-67 positively expressed osteosarcoma patients than in those with CD133 or Ki-67 negatively expressed osteosarcoma. The differences were significant (P < 0.05). The expression of CD133 and Ki-67, surgical staging, and distal metastasis were relevant to the prognosis of osteosarcoma patients. The expression of CD133 and distal metastasis are the independent risk factors that affect the prognosis of these patients.

  Conclusion  The positive expressions of CD133 and Ki-67 closely correlated with the occurrence and progression of osteosarcoma, and may be used as an indicator for prognosis of the cancer.