Skip to main content
  • Research article
  • Open access
  • Published:

YY1 overexpression is associated with poor prognosis and metastasis-free survival in patients suffering osteosarcoma

Abstract

Background

The polycomb transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1) overexpression can be causally implicated in experimental tumor growth and metastasization. To date, there is no clinical evidence of YY1 involvement in outcome of patients with osteosarcoma. Prognosis of osteosarcoma is still severe and only few patients survive beyond five years. We performed a prospective immunohistochemistry analysis to correlate YY1 immunostaining with metastatic development and survival in a selected homogeneous group of patients with osteosarcoma.

Methods

We studied 41 patients suffering from osteosarcoma (stage II-IVa). Multivariate analysis was performed using Cox proportional hazard regression to evaluate the correlation between YY1 expression and both metastasis development and mortality.

Results

YY1 protein is not usually present in normal bone; in contrast, a high number of patients (61%) showed a high score of YY1 positive cells (51-100%) and 39% had a low score (10-50% positive cells). No statistical difference was found in histology, anatomic sites, or response to chemotherapy between the two degrees of YY1 expression. Cox regression analysis demonstrated that the highest score of YY1 expression was predictive of both low metastasis-free survival (HR = 4.690, 95%CI = 1.079-20.396; p = 0.039) and poor overall survival (HR = 8.353, 95%CI = 1.863-37.451 p = 0.006) regardless of the effects of covariates such as age, gender, histology and chemonecrosis.

Conclusion

Overexpression of YY1 in primary site of osteosarcoma is associated with the occurrence of metastasis and poor clinical outcome.

Peer Review reports

Background

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumor in adolescents and children [1]. It occurs frequently in long bones and metastasizes preferentially to the lung [1]. Despite recent advances in chemotherapy, the 5-year event-free survival and overall survival rates, closely linked to grade of osteosarcoma, are around 50-60%. This is due to the development of resistance to multiple types of chemotherapy and radiotherapy [2–4]. Clinical stage of the disease and several clinical biomarkers have been correlated with the outcome [5–11]. Nonetheless, these prognostic factors have limited utility in terms of predicting survival [12].

The ubiquitous, conserved, multifunctional polycomb transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1) plays a pivotal role in biological processes [13–15]. YY1 regulates embryonic blood formation and its downstream hox genes, X chromosome inactivation, differentiation, and cell cycle [13, 14]. The majority of the data are consistent with the hypothesis that YY1 overexpression and/or its activation is associated with unchecked cellular proliferation, resistance to apoptotic stimuli, tumorigenesis and metastatic potential. We studied the role of YY1 in osteosarcoma carcinogenesis and tumor progression. YY1 is overexpressed in osteosarcoma cells and bioptic specimens, and is correlated with a high degree of malignancy [16, 17]. Moreover, YY1 silencing has been shown to be sufficient to significantly reduce osteosarcoma metastatic growth and neoangiogenesis in a nude mice model [18–20]. To date, there is no evidence of correlation between YY1 overexpression and clinical outcome in osteosarcoma patients. Thus, we designed a prospective study to analyze whether YY1 expression in the primary tumor of osteosarcoma patients could predict metastasis-free and overall survival.

Methods

Patients

We enrolled 41 osteosarcoma patients (stage II-IVa UICC/AJCC classification) from the Department of Pathology of the Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli (Bologna, Italy) and from the Division of Surgical Pathology, Istituto Nationale Tumori, Fondazione G. Pascale (Naples, Italy), under their Local Ethical Committee approval. We used the bioptic samples of primary tumor before any treatment (see below). Of the 41 patients, 14 had metastasis at the first visit (synchronous), 15 developed metastasis during follow-up (metachronous) and 12 were metastasis-free. Metastases were localized in lung and the primary sites were in extremity bones. Extraskeletal, periosteal, and paraosteal osteosarcomas were excluded from this study. All slides of the cases were reviewed by two pathologists to confirm diagnosis. Patients received preoperative, postoperative or no chemotherapy according to degree of tumor stage. Necrosis area was defined by using the Huvos grading system, as described in detail [21, 22]. Accordingly, we subdivided patients into two groups (<90%) and (≥90%) based on chemonecrosis area as indicated by the European Cooperative Osteosarcoma Study Group coordinated by the Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli (COSS) [21, 22], a partner of the present study.

Chemotherapy protocols included methotrexate (12 g/m2) with leucovorin rescue, cisplatin (90-150 mg/m2), doxorubicin (60-90 mg/m2), and ifosfamide (6-10 g/m2). The scheduled duration of chemotherapy ranged from 24 to 38 weeks. For chemotherapy patients, surgery was scheduled to take place between weeks 9 and 11 and radiotherapy was not used. We collected clinical data from all patients including age, sex, tumor site, necrosis area after chemotherapy and surgical stage.

Immunohistochemistry

Biopsies before chemotherapy were fixed and paraffin embedded. Conventional immunohistochemical studies were performed on 5-6 μm section, as previously described in detail [16, 22]. Briefly, slides were immersed in a water bath (W-cap Bioptica) and incubated for 30 minutes at 95°C, then cooled for 20 minutes at room temperature. Sections were then incubated for 10 minutes in 3% hydrogen peroxide in distilled water, and washed in PBS for 5 minutes. Slides were incubated with the primary antibody (mouse-monoclonal YY1 diluted 1:100 sc7341 Santa Cruz) for 30 minutes in a Dako Autostainer device. The signal was then visualized with streptavidina-biotina Dako REAL Detection System Peroxidase/DAB, Rabbit/Mouse Dako Autostainer. Slides were counterstained with hematoxylin. Washing steps were included after each incubation. All samples were stained with vimentin as tissue quality controls while positive and negative conventional controls were used to test antibody as already reported [16]. All controls gave satisfactory and reproducible results. Digital photos were obtained with Olympus Vanox AHBS3. The staining of tumor cells for evaluation of YY1 was scored from 0 to 4 (0=no staining; 1=weak 1-25% positive cells; 2= moderate 26%-50% positive cells; 3= strong 51%-75% positive cells; 4= very strong 76%-100% positive cells. This score was checked by two independent observers blinded for clinical outcome or other biological tumor features. Discrepant cases were decided on consensus.

Statistical analysis

Data were analyzed with SPSS 13.0 software. Results are reported as mean ± SD. YY1 was considered as a discrete variable and the patients were stratified into two classes: high score as 3-4, (>51-100% positive cells) and low score as 0-2, (0-<50% positive cells) of YY1. ANOVA was used to assess difference for continuous variables (age and mean follow-up) while Pearson chi square test was used to examine differences between YY1 expression and each clinical variable: gender, tumor site, histotype, chemonecrosis, presence of metastasis at diagnosis and occurrence of metastasis at follow-up (n = 41). Survival periods were counted in months from the date of first visit to date of death or last follow-up before study closure. Follow-up data started at time of diagnosis allowing a minimum of 3.8 months (mean 47.0 ± 25.3 month range, 3.8-95 months). Mean age of the sample was 19.4 ± 15.5 with a range from 4 to 76 years. Metastasis-free period was counted in months from the date of surgery to date of detection of first metastasis, since no local relapses occurred. We used life-table method to estimate the metastasis-free survival and overall survival for low and high levels of YY1 expression. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate the effect of YY1 expression on metastasis occurrence and survival independently of age, gender, histotype and chemonecrosis. A p value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results

YY1 overexpression in osteosarcoma tissues

Immunohistochemistry revealed that all normal bone tissues analyzed (n = 10) were almost negative to YY1 antibody or in some cases normal bone showed faint and diffuse cytoplasm staining, as previously reported [16]. Figure 1 shows two representative examples of osteosarcoma with the low score (2) and high score (4) of YY1 antibody localized predominantly in nuclei (95%). Table 1 shows YY1 scoring with respect to clinical variables. Table 2 summarizes the characteristics of the study population stratified by high and low YY1 expression (see methods). A total of 61% of tumor samples were positive to YY1 staining (nuclear staining) with strong intensity (score 3-4, >51-100% positive cells) while 39% showed a lower degree of YY1 staining (score 1-2, <50% of positive cells). Distal femur and tibia were the most common sites (53.7% and 19.5% respectively). The majority of tumors arose on extremities. There was no difference in degree of YY1 expression in histological subgroups (i.e. chondroblastic, fibroblastic and osteoblastic types, p = 0.557) and age. Twenty-seven patients were free of metastasis at baseline while 15 (55.6%) developed metastasis during follow-up. Of these, 80% were positive to YY1 (51-100% positive cells) (p = 0.004). In univariate analysis, death occurred in 64% of YY1 strong positive patients (p = 0.005). Importantly, multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that a high level of YY1 expression (score 3-4) was predictive of poor metastasis-free survival (HR = 4.690, 95%CI = 1.079-20.396; p = 0.039) (Table 3 and Figure 2). The estimated overall survival (after 60 months of follow-up) calculated by life-table method (Table 4) was 34% for patients with a high YY1 score and 79% for those with a low YY1 score. Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that YY1 expression is predictive of mortality (HR = 8.353, 95%CI = 1.863-37.451, p = 0.006) as an independent variable with respect to age, gender, histotype and chemonecrosis (Figure 3 and Table 5).

Figure 1
figure 1

Two comparative examples of YY1 expression in osteosarcomas. A, osteobastic osteosarcoma specimen with 2 as score of immunoreactivity to YY1 at lower magnification (20x); B, the same specimen as in A at higher magnification (100x); C, osteoblastic osteosarcoma specimen with 4 as score of immunoreactivity to YY1 (20x); D, the same osteoblastic osteosarcoma specimen as in C at higher magnification (100x). YY1 protein was localized in nuclei of the cells.

Table 1 YY1 scoring as continuous variable
Table 2 Univariate analysis of YY1 expression and clinical pathological characteristics of patients
Table 3 Multivariate Cox regression analysis on incidence of metachronous metastasis
Figure 2
figure 2

Cox regression of cumulative metastasis-free survival rate. The graph shows the cumulative metastasis-free survival of high grade osteosarcoma patients using Cox multivariate analysis. The data indicates that high score of YY1 is associated with higher probability of developing metastasis during the follow up (HR = 4.690, 95%CI = 1.079-20.396; p = 0.039). HR= hazard ratio; CI=confidence interval.

Table 4 Association between YY1 overexpression and probability of survival and median survival
Figure 3
figure 3

Cox regression of cumulative survival rate of all patients. The graph shows the cumulative overall survival rate of high grade osteosarcoma patients (n = 41) using Cox multivariate analysis. The data indicates that higher score of YY1 (3-4) predicts mortality during the follow up. (HR = 8.353, 95%CI = 1.863-37.451, p = 0.006) HR= hazard ratio; CI=confidence interval.

Table 5 Multivariate Cox regression analysis of clinical variables on overall survival

Discussion

The present study demonstrates that a high level of YY1 protein expression increases the risk of metastasis (4.69-fold) and poor survival (8.35-fold) in osteosarcoma patients independently of covariates such as age, gender, histotype, and chemonecrosis. We report that the highest range of YY1 expression is a statistically significant prognostic factor setting the 5-year survival rate to 34% in patients with osteosarcoma. These results are in line with literature data and with the tumor necrosis rate which is currently the strongest clinical prognostic factor after chemotherapy [2, 23, 24].

Overall, the molecular complexity of osteosarcoma makes the known prognostic markers of limited utility [12, 25]. A multiple panel of biomarkers in addition to clinical parameters would be useful for predicting prognosis [25]. In this setting, YY1 is the first osteosarcoma marker whose overexpression has been correlated with low metastasis-free and poor overall survival in a higher frequency of cases (61% in the present study) than reported in other studies leading us to set a higher cut-off value (YY1 > 50%) [12]. In addition, low YY1 expression was correlated with best clinical prognosis and absence of metastasis during follow-up. One common limitation of immunohistochemical studies is both antibody sensitivity and specificity. To address these issues, we used an antibody previously tested by other groups [26, 27]. Immunohistochemistry was also performed in two different Institutions which studied different subgroups of patients [26, 27]. YY1 was localized in the nucleus irrespective of histologic subtype, patient age, or tumor site. Although this is a small study, there was no significant difference in YY1 scores between younger and older age groups suggesting its role in tumor development. The design of the present study stemmed from our previous in vitro observations demonstrating that YY1 was overexpressed in osteosarcoma cells and tissues with more aggressive phenotype [16–18]. This is in agreement with YY1 overexpression in prostate, gastrointestinal [26, 27] and other tumors [14]. Moreover, in an in vivo mice model of osteosarcoma YY1 was also shown to play a key role in metastatic growth [19] by regulating vascular supply [20, 28].

Interestingly, the majority of patients analyzed revealed strong YY1 expression and showed poor response to chemotherapy based on Huvos grading system. Although the correlation between YY1 expression and prognosis may merely be a statistical association, the protein dosage points to a functional relationship between YY1 overexpression and a more aggressive tumor phenotype. Noteworthy, literature data from other tumoral and non-tumoral tissues provide at least some evidence for the proposed functional relationship. Resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis of prostate cancer cells is linked to YY1 [29]. A further potential link between YY1 overexpression and chemoresistance lies in the fact that YY1 regulates DR5 gene [30]. We have recently demonstrated that YY1 is involved in CXCR4 and VEGF pathways [19, 20] which have both been genetically amplified and correlated with poor survival of soft-tissue sarcomas [8, 31, 32]. In addition, YY1 overexpression increases resistance to taxana treatment in epithelial ovarian cancer [32]. Furthermore, in a meta-analysis, YY1 was scored as the most significant gene upregulated in metastatic breast cancer [33]. Thus, YY1 screening may be useful in optimizing individual therapy management at the time of diagnosis in these patients.

In conclusion, we demonstrated for the first time that high YY1 expression in osteosarcoma is associated with metastasis development and mortality independently of age, gender, histotype and presence of metastasis at baseline. While other studies have analyzed larger cohorts of patients [34, 35], this is the first time a prognostic marker has demonstrated poor outcome by multivariate analysis. If data are confirmed in a larger cohort of patients, YY1 may become part of a multiple panel of biomarkers clinically useful for osteosarcoma prognosis.

Conclusions

Our study established that overexpression of YY1 in primary site of osteosarcoma is associated with the occurrence of metastasization and poor clinical prognosis. This may be a novel marker for patients with osteosarcoma.

References

  1. Bacci G, Longhi A, Versari M, Mercuri M, Briccoli A, Picci P: Prognostic factors for osteosarcoma of the extremity treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy 15-year experience in 789 patients treated at a single institution. Cancer. 2006, 106: 1154-1161. 10.1002/cncr.21724.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Bielack SS, Kempf-Bielack B, Delling G, Exner GU, Flege S, Helmke K, Kotz R, Salzer-Kuntschik M, Werner M, Winkelmann W, Zoubek A, Jürgens H, Winkler K: Prognostic factors in high-grade osteosarcoma of the extremities or trunk: an analysis of 1,702 patients treated on neoadjuvant cooperative osteosarcoma study group protocols. J Clin Oncol. 2002, 20: 776-790. 10.1200/JCO.20.3.776.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Picci P, Mercuri M, Ferrari S, Alberghini M, Briccoli A, Ferrari C, Pignotti E, Bacci G: Survival in high-grade osteosarcoma: improvement over 21 years at a single institution. Ann Oncol. 2010, 21: 1366-1373. 10.1093/annonc/mdp502.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Longhi A, Errani C, De Paolis M, Mercuri M, Bacci G: Primary bone osteosarcoma in the pediatric age: state of the art. Cancer Treat Rev. 2006, 32: 423-436. 10.1016/j.ctrv.2006.05.005.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Kim MS, Lee SY, Lee TR, Cho WH, Song Ws, Koh JS, Lee JA, Yoo JY, Jeon DG: Prognostic nomogram for predicting the 5-year probability of developing metastasis after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and definitive surgery for AJCC stage II extremity osteosarcoma. Ann Oncol. 2009, 20: 955-960. 10.1093/annonc/mdn723.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Bacci G, Longhi A, Ferrari S, Lari S, Manfrini M, Donati D, Forni C, Versari M: Prognostic significance of serum alkaline phosphatase in osteosarcoma of the extremity treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy: recent experience at Rizzoli Institute. Oncol Rep. 2002, 1: 171-175.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Serra M, Scotlandi K, Reverter-Branchat G, Ferrari S, Manara MC, Benini S, Incaprera M, Bertoni F, Mercuri M, Briccoli A, Bacci G, Picci P: Value of P-glycoprotein and clinicopathologic factors as the basis for new treatment strategies in high-grade osteosarcoma of the extremities. J Clin Oncol. 2003, 3: 536-542.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Laverdiere C, Hoang BH, Yang R, Sowers R, Qin J, Meyers PA, Huvos AG, Healey JH, Gorlick R: Messenger RNA expression levels of CXCR4 correlate with metastatic behavior and outcome in patients with osteosarcoma. Clin Cancer Res. 2005, 11: 2561-2567. 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-04-1089.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Osaka E, Suzuki T, Osaka S, Yoshida Y, Sugita H, Asami S, Tabata K, Hemmi A, Sugitani M, Nemoto N, Ryu J: Survivin as a prognostic factor for osteosarcoma patients. Acta Histochem Cytochem. 2006, 3: 95-100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Kim C, Shin E, Hong S: Clinical value of ezrin expression in primary osteosarcoma. Cancer Res Treat. 2009, 41: 138-144. 10.4143/crt.2009.41.3.138.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Sadikovic B, Thorner P, Chilton-Macneill S, Martin JW, Cervigne NK, Squire J, Zielenska M: Expression analysis of genes associated with human osteosarcoma tumors shows correlation of RUNX2 overexpression with poor response to chemotherapy. BMC Cancer. 2010, 10: 202-211. 10.1186/1471-2407-10-202.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Clark JC, Dass CR, Choong PF: A review of clinical and molecular prognostic factors in osteosarcoma. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2008, 134: 281-297. 10.1007/s00432-007-0330-x.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Gordon S, Akopyan G, Garban H, Bonavida B: Transcription factor YY1: structure, function, and therapeutic implications in cancer biology. Oncogene. 2006, 25: 1125-1142. 10.1038/sj.onc.1209080.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Zaravinos A, Spandidos DA: Yin Yang expression in human tumors. Cell Cycle. 2010, 9: 512-522. 10.4161/cc.9.3.10588.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Rizkallah R, Alexander KE, Kassardjian A, Lüscher B, Hurt MM: The transcription factor YY1 is a substrate for Polo-like kinase 1 at the G2/M transition of the cell cycle. PLOS One. 2011, 6: e15928-10.1371/journal.pone.0015928.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. de Nigris F, Botti C, de Chiara A, Rossiello R, Apice G, Fazioli F, Fiorito C, Sica V, Napoli C: Expression of transcription factor Yin Yang 1 in human osteosarcomas. Eur J Cancer. 2006, 42: 2420-2424. 10.1016/j.ejca.2006.06.008.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. de Nigris F, Botti C, Rossiello R, Crimi E, Sica V, Napoli C: Cooperation between Myc and YY1 provides novel silencing transcriptional targets of alpha3beta1-integrin in tumour cells. Oncogene. 2007, 26: 382-394. 10.1038/sj.onc.1209804.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. de Nigris F, Rossiello R, Schiano C, Arra C, Williams-Ignarro S, Barbieri A, Lanza A, Balestrieri A, Giuliano MT, Ignarro LJ, Napoli C: Deletion of Yin Yang 1 protein in osteosarcoma cells on cell invasion and CXCR4/angiogenesis and metastasis. Cancer Res. 2008, 68: 1797-1808. 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-07-5582.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. de Nigris F, Crudele V, Giovane A, Casamassimi A, Giordano A, Garban HJ, Cacciatore F, Pentimalli F, Marquez-Garban DC, Petrillo A, Cito L, Sommese L, Fiore A, Petrillo M, Siani A, Barbieri A, Arra C, Rengo F, Hayashi T, Al-Omran M, Ignarro LJ, Napoli C: CXCR4/YY1 inhibition impairs VEGF network and angiogenesis during malignancy. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2010, 107: 14484-14489. 10.1073/pnas.1008256107.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  20. Napoli C, Giordano A, Casamassimi A, Pentimalli F, Ignarro LJ, de Nigris F: Directed in vivo angiogenesis assay and the study of systemic neoangiogenesis in cancer. Int J Cancer. 2011, 120: 1505-1508.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Marcove RC, Heelan RT, Huvos AG, Healey J, Lindeque BG: Osteoid osteoma. Diagnosis, localization, and treatment. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1991, 267: 197-201.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Baldini N, Scotlandi K, Barbanti-Bròdano G, Manara MC, Maurici D, Bacci G, Bertoni F, Picci P, Sottili S, Campanacci M: Expression of P-glycoprotein in high-grade osteosarcomas in relation to clinical outcome. N Engl J Med. 1995, 333: 1380-1385. 10.1056/NEJM199511233332103.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Rasalkar DD, Chu WC, Lee V, Paunipagar BK, Cheng FW, Li CK: Pulmonary metastases in children with osteosarcoma: characteristics and impact on patient survival. Pediatr Radiol. 2011, 41: 227-236. 10.1007/s00247-010-1809-1.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Davicioni E, Wai DH, Anderson MJ: Diagnostic and prognostic sarcoma signatures. Mol Diagn Ther. 2008, 12: 359-374.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Tainsky MA: Genomic and proteomic biomarkers for cancer: a multitude of opportunities. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2009, 1796: 176-193.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  26. Seligson D, Horvath S, Huerta-Yepez S, Hanna S, Garban H, Roberts A, Shi T, Liu X, Chia D, Goodglick L, Bonavida B: Expression of transcription factor Yin Yang 1 in prostate cancer. Int J Oncol. 2005, 27: 131-141.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Chinnapan D, Xiao Dm, Ratnasari A, Andry C, King TC, Weber HC: Transcription factor YY1 expression in human gastrointestinal cancer cells. Int J Oncol. 2009, 34: 1417-1423.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Huerta-Yepez S, Vega M, Garban H, Bonavida B: Involvement of the TNF-alpha autocrine-paracrine loop, via NF-kappaB and YY1, in the regulation of tumor cell resistance to Fas-induced apoptosis. Clin Immunol. 2006, 120: 297-309. 10.1016/j.clim.2006.03.015.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Baritaki S, Suzuki E, Umezawa K, Spandidos DA, Berenson J, Daniels TR, Penichet ML, Jazirehi AR, Palladino M, Bonavida B: Inhibition of Yin Yang 1-dependent repressor activity of DR5 transcription and expression by the novel proteasome inhibitor NPI-0052 contributes to its TRAIL-enhanced apoptosis in cancer cells. J Immunol. 2008, 180: 6199-6210.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Oda Y, Tateishi N, matono H, matsuura S, Yamamaoto H, Tamiya S, Yokiyama R, matsuda S, Iwamoto Y, Tsuneyoshi M: Chemokine receptor CXCR4 expression is correlated to VEGF expression and poor survival in soft tissue sarcoma. Int J Cancer. 2009, 124: 1852-1859. 10.1002/ijc.24128.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Yang J, Yang D, Sun Y, Sun B, Wang G, Trent J, Araujo D, Chen K, Zhang W, Matsumura N: Genetic amplification of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway genes, including VEGFA, in human osteosarcoma. Cancer. 2011

    Google Scholar 

  32. Huang Z, Baba T, Lee PS, Barnett JC, Mori S, Chang JT, Kuo WL, Gusberg AH, Whitaker RS, Gray JW, Fujii S, Berchuck A, Murphy SK: Yin Yang 1 modulates taxane response in epithelial ovarian cancer. Mol Cancer Res. 2009, 7: 210-220. 10.1158/1541-7786.MCR-08-0255.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  33. Thomassen M, Tan Q, Kruse TA: Gene expression meta-analysis identifies metastatic pathways and transcription factors in breast cancer. BMC Cancer. 2008, 8: 394-10.1186/1471-2407-8-394.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  34. Urakawa H, Nishida Y, Naruse T, Nakashima H, Ishiguro N: Cyclooxygenase-2 overexpression predicts poor survival in patients with high-grade extremity osteosarcoma a pilot study. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2009, 467: 2932-2938. 10.1007/s11999-009-0814-x.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  35. Urakawa H, Nishida Y, Nakashima H, Shimoyama Y, Nakamura S, Ishiguro N: Prognostic value of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase expression in high grade osteosarcoma. Clin Exp Metastasis. 2009, 26: 1005-1012. 10.1007/s10585-009-9290-7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Pre-publication history

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank Sig. Concetta Aiello for her technical support. This work was supported by grant from the "Fondi di Ateneo 2008" to the Second University of Naples (F.DN. and C.N.) and from the "Progetto di Rilevante Interesse Nazionale Ministero Italiano Università e Ricerca" 2006 [Code 0622153_002 "Meccanismi fisiopatologici di danno vascolare/trombotico ed angiogenesi"] and 2008 [Code T85HLH_002 "Regolazione dell'espressione genica della via SIRT/Foxo1- dipendente in cellule endoteliali progenitrici nella nicchia vascolare] to the Second University of Naples (C.N.)

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Filomena de Nigris.

Additional information

Competing interests

All authors have no potential conflict of interest including any financial, personal or other relationships with other people or organizations within that could inappropriately influence (bias) their work.

Authors' contributions

LZ, RR and GC performed immunohistochemistry experiments. FC performed statistical analysis and had responsibility for integrity of database. AM and DC grading evaluations of osteosarcoma patients. FDN and CN designed the study and wrote the manuscript. All the authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Filomena de Nigris, Licciana Zanella, Francesco Cacciatore contributed equally to this work.

Authors’ original submitted files for images

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0 ), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

de Nigris, F., Zanella, L., Cacciatore, F. et al. YY1 overexpression is associated with poor prognosis and metastasis-free survival in patients suffering osteosarcoma. BMC Cancer 11, 472 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2407-11-472

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2407-11-472

Keywords