Bone morphogenetic proteins, which are capable of inducing mesenchymal tiss
ue to form bone in mammals, have been implicated as important in normal ske
letal development. The expression of bone morphogenetic proteins and their
receptors were studied in 36 osteosarcoma specimens, six Ewing's sarcomas,
20 synovial sarcomas, and 20 chondrosarcomas by reverse transcriptase-polym
erase chain reaction, and the findings were correlated with clinical data.
Bone morphogenetic protein-2, and -4 messages were detected in most sarcoma
samples. Bone morphogenetic protein-6 expression was detected in 22 of 32
osteosarcomas and seven of eight chondrosarcomas, Bone morphogenetic protei
n-7 and receptor IB were not detected in sarcoma samples but were detected
in three osteosarcoma cell lines and one malignant fibrous histiocytoma cel
l line. Expression of bone morphogenetic protein receptor II was found in 2
5 of 36 osteosarcomas, eight of 20 chondrosarcomas, four of six Ewing's sar
comas, and 15 of 20 synovial sarcoma samples, Expression of bone morphogene
tic protein type II receptor was found to correlate with metastasis in oste
osarcomas, which suggests that the bone morphogenetic protein pathway may p
articipate in tumor aggressiveness or progression. The expression of hone m
orphogenetic protein receptor II in metastatic synovial sarcoma and dediffe
rentiated chondrosarcoma lesions also supports this hypothesis. The current
study showed that the ligands for bone morphogenetic protein receptors, bo
ne morphogenetic proteins-2, -4, and -6; also are expressed in osteosarcoma
and other sarcoma tissues, indicating a potential for autocrine or paracri
ne growth stimulation in these tumors.