Determination of the apoptotic index in osteosarcoma tissue and its relationship with patients prognosis

BACKGROUND: Nowadays it remains a controversial issue whether a correlation exists between the apoptosis rate of tumor tissue and the prognosis of the patients. We aimed to explore the prognostic significance of apoptosis index of human osteosarcoma tissue. METHODS: The technique of terminal DNA breakpoints in situ 3 - hydroxy end labeling (TUNEL) was used to detect and analysis apoptosis index in 56 osteosarcoma specimens. The relationships between apoptosis index of tumor tissue and long term survival of patients as well as pathologic classification, tumor clinical stages, tumor size and level of serum alkaline phosphatase were analyzed. RESULTS: Our studies showed the cases with high apoptosis index had significantly longer survival time. Apoptosis index in osteosarcoma tissue was correlated with tumor size and level of serum alkaline phosphatase but not with pathologic classifications and clinical stages of tumor. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that apoptosis index of osteosarcoma tissue combined with serum alkaline phosphatase could used as valid indicators to predicate the malignant level and prognosis of osteosarcoma cases, which would contribute to enhance efficacy of clinical treatments for osteosarcoma.