66.
YKL-40 is expressed in soft tissue sarcomas
Mette L. Harving, Lise H. Christensen, Gunnar Lausten, Michael M. Petersen
Department of Radiology Roskilde Hospital; Department of Pathology,
Bispebjerg Hospital; Department of Orthopaedics, Rigshospitalet; Department
of Ortopaedics, Rigshospitalet
Background:
YKL-40 is a glycoprotein that is expressed in many types of
cancer cells and plasma concentration has been shown to be elevated in
various types of cancer. In some cancers high serum-YKL-40 level is
correlated to a more aggressive disease and early death. YKL40 has never been
studied in patients with soft tissue sarcomas (STS).
Purpose / Aim of Study:
To determine if YKL40 is expressed in STS tissue,
and ascertain if the degree of expression is related to survival or the
histological malignancy grade (Trojani).
Materials and Methods:
Archived STS tissue from 49 patients (F/M=20/29,
mean age 58(range 4-89) years), surgically treated with tumour resection in
2004
or 2005 at the Department of Orthopaedics, Rigshospitalet, were
included in the study. Minimum follow-up with respect to survival was 5
years. Immunohisto- chemical analysis with YKL-40 antibody using tissue
microarray was performed on tissue from all resected tumours, and a semi
quantitative measure of the YKL- 40 staining intensity was performed.
Statistics: non-parametric tests (Mann- Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis test).
Findings / Results:
42 (86%)
of the 49 tumours tested positive for YKL40 and
of these 36 (73%) had a moderate to intense staining. 24 (49%) of the patients
died within the follow up period, and the YKL-40 staining intensity was higher
(
p=0.01) in tumours from patients, who had died within the follow up period
than those who survived. The YKL-40 staining intensity was different in the 3
malignancy grades (p=0.004); higher in high-malignant tumours (Trojani
grade 2 and 3) compared to low malignant (Trojani grade 1).
Conclusions:
YKL40 is expressed in soft tissue sarcomas. Expression of
YKL40 in STS is correlated the histological malignancy grade and survival. In
order to estimate if YKL-40 can be used as a prognostic marker larger studies
are needed.
