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Updated: Sep 27, 2026
A Preclinical Mouse Model of Osteosarcoma to Define the Extracellular Vesicle-mediated Communication Between Tumor and Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Published on: May 6, 2018
Elevated expression of matrix metalloproteinase-3 in human osteosarcoma and its association with tumor metastasis
Jie-Feng Huang1, Wen-Xi Du, Jun-Jie Chen
1Department of Orthopedics, The first affiliated hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310006, China.
Purpose:
Matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) is one of the several MMPs that is associated with malignant tumors of breast, colon, cervix and lung, where its expression has been correlated with tumor invasion and metastasis. However, the role of MMP-3 in metastasis of osteosarcoma has not yet been explored.
Methods:
MMP-3 expression in 15 primary and metastatic osteosarcomas with case-matched adjacent non-tumor tissue was assessed by immunohistochemistry and quantitative RT-PCR. Further, MMP-3 mRNA and protein levels were also determined in osteoblast and osteosarcoma cell lines. Additionally, migration and invasion assays were performed in MMP-3 knockdown cells.
Results:
MMP-3 was expressed in 86.6% (13/15) of the osteosarcoma patients and its expression was significantly higher in metastatic tumors as compared to the primary osteosarcoma tumor tissues. Furthermore, osteosarcoma cell lines showed higher MMP-3 expression as compared to osteoblast cell lines. siRNA-mediated MMP-3 knockdown in osteosarcoma cell lines significantly inhibited their migration and invasion properties.
Conclusion:
Our results demonstrated that MMP-3 expression is deregulated in osteosarcomas and this potentially contributes to metastasis and might be a promising marker for the prognosis and therapy of metastatic osteosarcoma.
Insights
Matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) is elevated in osteosarcoma, promoting tumor metastasis. Targeting MMP-3 may offer a new therapeutic strategy for this bone cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) is implicated in the invasion and metastasis of various cancers.
- The specific role of MMP-3 in osteosarcoma metastasis remains unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression and function of MMP-3 in osteosarcoma.
- To determine if MMP-3 contributes to osteosarcoma metastasis.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry and quantitative RT-PCR to assess MMP-3 expression in patient tissues and cell lines.
- Migration and invasion assays in MMP-3 knockdown osteosarcoma cell lines.
Main Results:
- MMP-3 was highly expressed in 86.6% of osteosarcoma samples, with significantly higher levels in metastatic tumors.
- Osteosarcoma cell lines exhibited greater MMP-3 expression than osteoblast cell lines.
- MMP-3 knockdown markedly reduced osteosarcoma cell migration and invasion.
Conclusions:
- MMP-3 expression is deregulated in osteosarcoma.
- MMP-3 plays a role in osteosarcoma metastasis.
- MMP-3 may serve as a prognostic and therapeutic marker for metastatic osteosarcoma.
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