Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Three-Dimensional Bone Extracellular Matrix Model for Osteosarcoma
Published on: April 12, 2019
Canine soft tissue sarcomas: the expression of RUNX2 and karyopherin alpha-2 in extraskeletal (soft tissues) and
Leonardo Leonardi1, Elisabetta Manuali2, Antonello Bufalari1
1Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Abstract:
Extraskeletal osteosarcoma (EOS) is a malignant tumor producing bone matrix and/or chondroid material, without direct attachment to bone or periosteum. In humans and dogs, EOS is highly infiltrating, rapidly growing, often characterized by osteoid deposition and variable ossification, similar to primary skeletal osteosarcoma (SOS). In dogs, EOS arises from visceral and soft tissue locations, occasionally in trauma or foreign body sites, or in granulomas. Few data are currently available on the phenotype of these tumors. The present study aims to assess the expression RUNX2 and Karyopherin alpha-2 in EOS, comparing it with SOS and the data available from the human counterpart. Seventeen cases of canine osteosarcoma (13 EOS and 4 SOS) were retrospectively selected and submitted to immunohistochemistry for RUNX2 and Karyopherin alpha-2. Our results showed that, in EOS, RUNX2 is expressed in a mean of 73.07 ± 5.36 neoplastic cell nuclei, in face of a mean 36.15 ± 6.25 of Karyopherin alpha-2 positive nuclei. Osteoclasts, when present, were negative for both markers. No correlation was observed among the two markers (p > 0.05), nor statistically significant difference in quantitative expression was assessed comparing EOS and SOS groups. RUNX2 is expressed in canine EOS similarly to SOS and could be used as a diagnostic marker in a larger panel. Karyopherin alpha-2 is expressed in canine EOS and SOS similarly to human SOS and could be validated in future studies as an additional diagnostic marker. Further studies should be planned to evaluate the expression of these proteins as prognostic predictive parameters.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
lncRNA - Long Non-coding RNAs
Abnormal Proliferation
Metastasis
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...

