Correlation between the histological grade of chondrosarcoma and the expression of MMPs, ADAMTSs and TIMPs.

BACKGROUND The malignant degree of human chondrosarcoma can be difficult to determine using only histological findings. We, therefore, assessed the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), a disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTSs) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in chondrosarcoma and ascertained the relationships to histological degree of malignancy and prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS In 28 chondrosarcoma cases, immunostaining was performed using antibodies against MMP 2, 3, 7, 9, 13, ADAMTS 4, 5 and TIMP 1, 2, 3. RESULTS The chondrosarcoma were classified into groups of 7, 15 and 6 cases based on histologically malignant grade I, II and III, respectively. All target proteins were expressed in chondrosarcoma. Positive correlations (p < 0.05) existed between immunostaining scores and histological grades for all proteins except MMP 9, with strong correlations (p < 0.01) for MMPs 2, 3 and 13, both ADAMTSs and all 3 TIMPs. No correlation existed between prognosis and immunostaining scores. CONCLUSION These target proteins could, thus, indicate the degree of malignancy in human chondrosarcoma.