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Updated: Aug 12, 2025
Three-Dimensional Bone Extracellular Matrix Model for Osteosarcoma
Published on: April 12, 2019
The role of SPARC/ON in human osteosarcoma
1Anatomic Pathology Division, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), Ottawa, ON, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Department of Orthopedics, Tianyou Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Abstract:
The human osteosarcoma is a malignant tumor of the arthro-skeletal system. It has been recognized that it is the most common malignancy followed by the Ewing sarcoma or primitive neuroectodermal tumor. The prognosis is worrisome and is not preserved by the use of classical chemotherapy drugs. High rates of recurrence and metastases often accompany this malignant tumor. Chemotherapy often fails because of the onset of multidrug resistance, even though the mechanism to reach chemotherapy resistance is still intriguing and contains unclear pathways. The secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) or osteonectin (ON) (SPARC/ON) has been associated with poor prognosis in several malignant neoplasms. In this mini-review, we are going to highlight the role of SPARC/ON in human osteosarcoma. Extracellular vesicles are fundamental in cell-to-cell communication. We suggest that a liquid biopsy targeting SPARC/ON may be critical to implement in the surveillance of patients with this malignant bony neoplasm.
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