Abstract:
Objective To investigate the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) and matrix metallo proteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression levels in osteosarcoma tissues and their clinical significance.
Methods The ERK5 and MMP-9 expression levels in 71 specimens of osteosarcoma tissue and 40 specimens of normal bone tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry. The relationship between ERK5 and MMP-9 expression levels, their clinical characteristics, and prognosis of patients with osteosarcoma were analyzed.
Results The positive expression of ERK5 and MMP-9 in osteosarcoma tissues was 85.9% (61/71) and 74.65% (53/71), respectively, which were significantly higher than those in normal bone tissues at 12.5% (5/40) and 10.0% (4/40) (all P < 0.05). The positive expression of ERK5 and MMP-9 was associated with Enneking stage and metastasis (all P < 0.05). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the survival duration of patients with positive ERK5 and MMP-9 expression levels was shorter than those of the patients in the negative expression groups (all P < 0.05). Univariate analysis of COX proportional hazards regression model revealed that tumor size, Enneking stage, metastasis, and positive ERK5 and MMP-9 expression levels are relevant to the overall survival of patients with osteosarcoma (all P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis of COX proportional hazards regression model confirmed that Enneking stage, metastasis, and positive ERK5 and MMP-9 expression levels can act as independent prognostic factors for osteosarcoma patients (all P < 0.05).
Conclusion The ERK5 and MMP-9 expression levels are high in osteosarcoma tissues and are related to the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with osteosarcoma. Thus, ERK5 and MMP-9 expression levels may play important roles in osteosarcoma development and progression.