VEGF expression as a prognostic marker in osteosarcoma

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Angiogenesis Research

Background:

• The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway is crucial for angiogenesis.
• While baseline VEGF expression predicts prognosis in osteosarcoma, its role after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prognostic value of VEGF expression in osteosarcoma patients after NACT.
• To correlate post-NACT VEGF expression with treatment response and patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• 31 treatment-naive osteosarcoma patients received NACT and surgery.
• VEGF expression was assessed via immunohistochemistry in pre-NACT and post-NACT tumor samples.
• VEGF expression was correlated with histological grade and necrosis (Huvos grading).

Main Results:

• 90% concordance between positive VEGF and higher histological grade at baseline.
• Post-NACT VEGF expression and VEGF change post-NACT significantly correlated with histological necrosis.
• 67% of patients were poor responders to NACT.

Conclusions:

• Positive VEGF expression in residual tumor cells post-NACT is a significant negative prognostic factor in osteosarcoma.
• This finding can inform the development of targeted therapies based on tumor angiogenesis.