Purpose: Giant cell tumor (GCT) of bone is a vessel-rich and infiltrative tumor, but the fundamental knowledge of its biological behavior remains unknown now.
Methods: In this study, we evaluated the expression levels of Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 3 (IMP3), Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) and CD105 in 38 patients with GCT of spine by Immunohistochemical staining. Additionally, we also analyzed their correlations with clinicopathological factors of giant cell tumor of spine.
Results: The results showed that positive expression of IMP3 and IGF2 was tightly related to the tumor extension and local recurrence of GCT (P < 0.05), but it did not indicate any association with patients' age, gender, tumor location and size. The mean microvessel densities (MVDs) of IMP3 and IGF2 were significantly higher in positive group than negative group (P < 0.05). Moreover, a significant correlation was found between IMP3 and IGF2 expression (r = 0.355, P = 0.029). The log-rank test revealed that local recurrence-free survival time was significantly shorter in the IMP3 positive group (P = 0.004), and the difference in the IGF2 positive group and negative group was also statistically significant (P = 0.008).
Conclusion: IMP3 and IGF2 might be potential biomarkers for GCT of spine in regulating the angiogenesis of giant cell tumor of bone and predicting the patients' prognosis.