Objective: To investigate the relationship between tumor angiogenesis and clinical pathology, as wel as the prognosis in osteosarcoma.
Methods: Intratumoral microvessel density (MVD) in 70 cases of osteosarcoma was assessed immunohistochemically by using the specific endothelial cell markers F VIII-RA and CD31.
Results: There was no correlation between the MVD and the tumor size, Price's grade, as well as Dahlin's classification; however, significant correlation was found between the MVD and the neoplastic osteoid classification, new WHO classification in 1993, as well as the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) labelling index. Microvessel counts were associated with overall survival by Kaplan-Meier analysis. An average vessal count of less than 31 (x 200) suggested a better survival, but a higher vessel count of more than 31 (x 200) showed a trand to worse the overall survival.
Conclusion: The results suggest a significant relationship between MVD and prognosis; moreover, MVD may be a useful prognostic indicator in osteosarcomas.