CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL CORRELATIONS AND SHORT-TERM PROGNOSIS IN MUSCULOSKELETAL SARCOMA WITH C-MYC ONCOGENE AMPLIFICATION

The prognostic significance of c-myc oncogene amplification was invest igated in a series of 44 patients with musculoskeletal malignancy. The re were 21 bone tumors and 23 soft tissue sarcomas. Amplification of t he c-myc oncogene was detected in 11 tumors: 4 bone tumors and 7 soft tissue sarcomas. In 9 of the 11 myc-amplified tumors a high grade of m alignancy was revealed histologically. The relative frequency of c-myc amplification was higher in grade IV tumors. After a mean follow-up o f 18 months, 6 of 11 patients with c-myc-amplified tumors and 12 of 33 patients with nonamplified tumors either exhibited recurrence or died of tumor disease. Both 3-year estimated overall survival and disease- free survival probability were lower for patients with myc-amplified t umors. Amplification of the c-myc oncogene was associated with poor sh ort-term prognosis. Although gene amplification was encountered sporad ically in musculoskeletal sarcomas, the reported dat suggest that anal ysis of c-myc may provide valid information on prognosis.