Giant cell tumor of bone: exploring HtrA1 as a potential predictor of recurrence

Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is a locally aggressive tumor with a considerable risk of recurrence, but reliable predictive markers are limited. High-temperature requirement A serine peptidase 1 (HtrA1) has been implicated in the progression of several cancers and may also play a role in GCTB recurrence.

This retrospective study included 34 patients with GCTB treated with curettage between 2002 and 2016. HtrA1 expression was evaluated separately in giant cells (GC) and mononuclear cells (MNC) using immunohistochemistry. Based on high or low expression in each cell type, patients were categorized into four expression patterns: High GC / High MNC, High GC / Low MNC, Low GC / High MNC, and Low GC / Low MNC. Clinical data, including recurrence status and time to recurrence, were analyzed.

The High GC / Low MNC group showed the highest recurrence rate at 71.4%, compared with 28.6% in the High GC / High MNC group and 31.6% in the Low GC / Low MNC group. No recurrence was observed in the Low GC / High MNC group, which included only one patient. The High GC / Low MNC group showed a non-significant trend toward higher recurrence compared with all other groups combined, with a similar trend toward shorter recurrence-free survival.

HtrA1 expression patterns in GCTB may provide preliminary insight into recurrence risk. Although no statistically significant association was demonstrated, the observed trends suggest potential prognostic relevance and warrant validation in larger cohorts.