Forkhead box protein M1 predicts outcome in human osteosarcoma.

PURPOSE In the present study, we examined both FOXM1 mRNA and protein expression by Real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot and investigate the expression of the human FOXM1 by Immunohistochemistry (IHC), and identify their potential roles in prognosis for patients with osteosarcoma. METHODS FOXM1 mRNA and protein expression levels were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot assays, respectively. Then, IHC was performed to analyze the association of FOXM1 expression in 83 osteosarcoma tissues with clinicopathological factors and survival of patients. RESULTS The expression levels of FOXM1 mRNA were found to be significantly increased in osteosarcoma tissues compared to noncancerous bone tissues (P = 0.0313). Simultaneously, western blot analysis showed that the protein level of FOXM1 in osteosarcoma tissues was significantly higher than that in noncancerous bone tissues. Kaplan-Meier analysis with the log-rank test indicated that high FOXM1 expression had a significant impact on overall survival (P = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Our data showed that FoxM1 was upregulated in osteosarcoma tissues, and high expression of FoxM1 was correlated with a poor prognosis of patients with osteosarcoma. FoxM1 may function as a valuable prognostic biomarker for osteosarcoma.