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Updated: May 12, 2026

Intratibial Osteosarcoma Cell Injection to Generate Orthotopic Osteosarcoma and Lung Metastasis Mouse Models
Published on: October 28, 2021
Twist2 functions as a tumor suppressor in murine osteosarcoma cells
Tomoki Ishikawa1, Takatsune Shimizu, Arisa Ueki
1Division of Gene Regulation, Institute for Advanced Medical Research, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan.
Twist2 acts as a tumor suppressor in osteosarcoma, inhibiting cancer progression and metastasis. Its downregulation correlates with increased tumor formation, suggesting therapeutic potential for osteosarcoma treatment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) drives cancer malignancy and metastasis.
- The role of EMT-transcription factors (EMT-TFs) in mesenchymal tumors like osteosarcoma is poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of Twist2, an EMT-TF, in osteosarcoma tumorigenesis.
- To determine if Twist2 functions as a tumor suppressor in osteosarcoma.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of Twist2 gene expression in human osteosarcoma.
- Forced expression and knockdown of Twist2 in murine osteosarcoma cell lines.
- In vitro cell growth assays and in vivo tumor formation studies.
- Assessment of fibulin-5 and MMP9 gene expression.
Main Results:
- Twist2 expression is downregulated in human osteosarcoma and inversely correlates with tumorigenic potential.
- Forced Twist2 expression suppressed osteosarcoma tumor formation in vivo.
- Twist2 knockdown enhanced tumor formation in vivo.
- Twist2 induced fibulin-5 expression and suppressed MMP9 expression and invasion.
Conclusions:
- Twist2 functions as a tumor suppressor in osteosarcoma.
- Twist2 inhibits osteosarcoma growth and metastasis by modulating the tumor microenvironment, including suppressing MMP9.
- Twist2 represents a potential therapeutic target for osteosarcoma.
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