The Significance Of Nucleostemin And PUMA Expression In Osteosarcoma

Objective: To study the expression of nucleostemin (NS) and p53 up-regulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) protein in osteosarcoma and explore the relationship between pathological classification and clinical stages of osteosarcoma. Method: 30 specimens of osteosarcoma with different pathological classification and clinic stages were used for detecting the differential expression of NS and PUMA by using immunohistochemistry and image analysis.Results: 1. NS was located in the nucleus or nucleolus and NS expression in osteosarcoma were much higher than that of osteochondroma (P<0.05). The change of NS expression was associated with clinic stages (P<0.05), but not with pathological classification of osteochondroma (P>0.05). 2. PUMA was located in the cytoplasm and the PUMA expression in osteosarcoma was much lower than that of osteochondroma (P<0.05). The change of PUMA expression was not associated with clinic stages and pathological classification of osteochondroma (P>0.05). 3. There was no correlation in expressions of NS and PUMA in osteosarcoma cells. Conclusion: 1. NS may pay an important role in the progression and proliferation of osteosarcoma cell. With the Ennking stages increased the expression of NS also increased. The expression of NS may be an important reference of the treatment of osteosarcoma. 2. The expression levels of PUMA from osteosarcoma were much lower than osteochondroma show that in the progression and proliferation of osteosarcoma cells the apoptosis mediated by PUMA was inhibited. PUMA may be a new target for the treatment of osteosarcoma.