Expression of bone morphogenetic proteins and receptors in sarcomas

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.