Biologic characterization of human bone tumors

Abstract

Sixteen cases of typical highly malignant osteosarcoma were investigated by light, electron, and immunofluorescence microscopy to demonstrate the presence of collagen types I-III. It was shown that, in light-microscopically anaplastic areas of the tumor, collagen type III predominates, while only very few membranes of collagen type I are observed. Ultrastructurally, the cells are characterized by numerous free ribosomes in their cytoplasm and only a few membranes of granular endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In osteoblastic areas, collagen type I is increased, while type-III collagen is decreased. The cytoplasm of cells contains markedly more granular ER. An increasing mineralization of matrix is observed. In fibroblastic areas of the tumors, collagen types I and III are codistributed. Tumor cells have a fibroblast appearance with elongated nuclei and well developed granular ER. The chondroblastic areas, characterized by immature neoplastic cartilage, contain varying amounts of collagen type II. Chondroblast-like tumor cells have typical ring-shaped membranes of granular ER in their cytoplasm. The evidence of different collagen types in osteosarcomas lends additional support to the concept that a pluripotent mesenchymal cell is the stem cell of osteosarcomas.

Epidermal growth factor receptor signalling contributes to osteoblastic stromal cell proliferation, osteoclastogenesis and disease progression in giant cell tumour of bone

“…5 GCTB is composed of multinucleated osteoblastic giant cells of and a mononuclear component that includes osteoblast ⁄ fibroblast-like stromal cells and cells of the monocyte ⁄ macrophage lineage. 5,17 The stromal cells express early osteoblast markers 18 and are thought to be neoplastic, based on tritiated thymidine incorporation 19 and their genetic instability evidenced by random aneusomy and balanced polisomy, 20 clonal telomeric aberrations 21 and telomeric chromosomal associations. 22,23 The cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling disease progression in GCTB are uncertain.…”

Expression of galaxin and oncogene homologs in growth anomaly in the coral Montipora capitata

“…The expression levels of oncogenes are often increased in tumor cells. Galaxin is homologous to the protein family of collagens, which is the most abundant protein in bone and has been shown to be differentially expressed in the presence of osteosarcoma, a bone cancer (Roessner et al 1983, Kubista et al 2011.…”

Effects of transforming growth factor‐β1 and tumour necrosis factor‐α on cultured fibroblasts from skin fibroma as modulated by toremifene

“…9 -11 TGF-␤1 can act as a proinflammatory agent for tumour-associated cells such as monocytes, which may be present in the infiltrate of fibroma tumours. [12][13][14][15] TGF-␤1 occupies a central position in the signalling network that controls growth, differentiation, ECM deposition, angiogenesis, immunosuppression, changes in cellular adhesive properties and tumour progression. 16 -21 Although TGF-␤1 can function as either an agonist or an antagonist of cell proliferation, depending on the cell type, culture condition and the synergic interaction with other growth factors, [22][23][24] it consistently induces cells to deposit ECM by stimulating the synthesis of matrix proteins and inhibiting the production of matrix-degrading proteases.…”