Bone morphogenetic protein in bone neoplasms: comparison of different detection methods

The presence of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) in 13 primary bone neoplasms was investigated with conventional bioassay method and immunohistochemically using antiserum against highly purified mixture of bovine BMPs as antibody. In conventional bioassay after implantation of lyophilized bone tumor tissues into mouse muscle pouches 9/13 samples turned out positive by radiography and 10/13 histologically. By immunohistochemical staining, using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase method, signs of BMPs could be verified in all cases investigated. Microscopical scoring showed the local concentration of BMPs to be especially high in sections from giant cell tumors when compared to other bone neoplasms.