PURPOSE: To examine the expression of Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF) in osteosarcoma and to evaluate its role in osteosarcoma invasion and proliferation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The mRNA expression of CTGF from 23 patient-derived osteosarcoma cell lines was examined, and the role of CTGF in cell invasion and proliferation was examined using siRNA transfection. RESULTS: The over-expression of CTGF mRNA was observed in 17 cell lines (74%). CTGF-specific siRNA transfection into SaOS-2 and MG63 cell lines resulted in efficient knockdown of CTGF expression on Western blot analysis. siRNA transfected cells showed decreased migration on Matrigel invasion assay and decreased cell proliferation on WST-1 assay. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that the CTGF expression may play an important role in osteosarcoma progression, and may be a therapeutic target of osteosarcoma.
Blotting, Western ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; Osteosarcoma* ; RNA, Messenger ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Transfection

No Abstract available.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Arthroplasty ; Knee*

BACKGROUND: The pelvic bone is the most common site of bone metastases following the axial skeleton. Surgery on the pelvic bone is a demanding procedure. Few studies have been published on the surgical outcomes of metastasis to the pelvic bone with only small numbers of patients involved. This study sought to analyze the complications, local progression and survival after surgery for metastasis to the pelvic bone on a larger cohort of patients. METHODS: We analyzed 83 patients who underwent surgery for metastases to the pelvic bone between the years 2000 and 2015. There were 41 men and 42 women with a mean age of 55 years. Possible factors that might be associated with complications, local progression and survival were investigated with regard to patient demographics and disease-related and treatment-related variables. RESULTS: The overall complication rate was 16% (13/83). Advanced age (> 55 years, p = 0.034) and low preoperative serum albumin levels (≤ 39 g/L, p = 0.001) were associated with increased complication rates. In patients with periacetabular disease, the complication rate was higher in those who underwent total hip replacement arthroplasty (THR) than those who did not (p = 0.030). Local progression rate was 46% (37/83). The overall median time to local progression was 26 ± 14.3 months. The median time from local progression to death was 13 months (range, 0 to 81 months). The local progression-free survival was 52.6% ± 6.4% at 2 years and 36.4%± 7.6% at 5 years, respectively. Presence of skip lesions (p = 0.017) and presence of visceral metastasis (p = 0.027) were found to be significantly associated with local progression. The median survival of all patients was 24 months. The 2-year and 3-year survival rates were 52.5% ± 5.9% and 35.6% ± 6%, respectively. Metastasis from the kidney, breast, or thyroid or of hematolymphoid origin (p = 0.014), absence of visceral metastasis (p = 0.017) and higher preoperative serum albumin levels (p = 0.009) were associated with a prolonged survival. CONCLUSIONS: Advanced age and low serum albumin levels were associated with high complication rates. Local progression after surgery for metastases to the pelvic bone was affected by the presence of skip lesions, not by surgical margins. Primary cancer type, serum albumin level and visceral metastasis influenced survival.
Arthroplasty ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Bone Neoplasms ; Breast ; Cohort Studies ; Demography ; Disease Progression ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Pelvic Bones* ; Serum Albumin ; Skeleton ; Survival Rate ; Thyroid Gland

BACKGROUND: We report on our experience with using a distally based island flap for soft tissue reconstruction of the foot in limb salvage surgery for malignant melanoma patients. METHODS: A distally based sural flap was used for 10 cases for the hindfoot reconstruction, and a lateral supramalleolar flap was used for 3 cases for the lateral arch reconstruction of the mid- and forefoot after wide excision of malignant melanomas. RESULTS: The length of the flap varied from 7.5 cm to 12 cm (mean, 9.6 cm) and the width varied from 6.5 cm to 12 cm (mean, 8.8 cm). Superficial necrosis developed in four flaps, but this was successfully treated by debridement and suture or a skin graft. All thirteen flaps survived completely and they provided good contour, stable and durable coverage for normal weight bearing. CONCLUSIONS: The distally based sural flap is considered to be useful for reconstructing the hindfoot, and the lateral supramalleolar flap is good for reconstructing the lateral archs of the mid- and forefoot after resection of malignant melanoma of the foot.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Foot/*surgery ; Foot Diseases/*surgery ; *Free Tissue Flaps ; Humans ; Limb Salvage ; Male ; Melanoma/*surgery ; Middle Aged ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures/methods ; Skin Neoplasms/*surgery

BACKGROUND: We compared indomethacin therapy with the more aggressive approaches of anti-cancer chemotherapy and surgery in the treatment of isolated Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) of bone in children. METHODS: Comparisons were made with respect to healing of the lesion without recurrence, time to radiological healing of the lesion, time to functional recovery, and complications related to treatment. RESULTS: Complete radiologic healing of the lesion (mean, 15.3 months) and functional recovery (mean, 5.6 months) were observed in all patients treated with either approach. No significant differences were noted in the time to complete radiologic healing or the time to functional recovery between the two groups. There were no recurrences with either approach until the last follow-up (mean, 56 months). Complications were common with anti-cancer chemotherapy, but indomethacin was well-tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Indomethacin seems to be effective for treating isolated LCH of bone in children. Hence, morbidities associated with aggressive treatment approaches such as anti-cancer chemotherapy or surgery can be avoided.
Adolescent ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/*therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Bone Diseases/*drug therapy/radiography/radionuclide imaging ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors/*therapeutic use ; Eosinophilic Granuloma/*drug therapy/radiography/radionuclide imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Indomethacin/*therapeutic use ; Infant ; Male ; Recurrence

BACKGROUND: Injectable calcium sulfate is a clinically proven osteoconductive biomaterial, and it is an injectable, resorbable and semi-structural bone graft material. The purpose of this study was to validate the clinical outcomes of injectable calcium sulfate (ICS) grafts as compared with those of a demineralized bone matrix (DBM)-based graft for filling in contained bony defects created by tumor surgery. METHODS: Fifty-six patients (41 males and 15 females) with various bone tumors and who were surgically treated between September 2003 and October 2007 were included for this study. The patients were randomly allocated into two groups, and either an ICS graft (28 patients) or a DBM-based graft (28 patients) was implanted into each contained defect that was developed by the surgery. The radiographic outcomes were compared between the two groups and various clinical factors were included for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: When one case with early postoperative pathologic fracture in the DBM group was excluded, the overall success rates of the ICS and DBM grafting were 85.7% (24/28) and 88.9% (24/27) (p > 0.05), respectively. The average time to complete healing was 17.3 weeks in the ICS group and 14.9 weeks in the DBM group (p > 0.05). Additionally, the ICS was completely resorbed within 3 months, except for one case. CONCLUSIONS: Although the rate of resorption of ICS is a concern, the injectable calcium sulfate appears to be a comparable bone graft substitute for a DBM-based graft, with a lower cost, for the treatment of the bone defects created during surgery for various bone tumors.
Absorbable Implants ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Biocompatible Materials/*administration & dosage ; Bone Demineralization Technique ; Bone Matrix/*transplantation ; Bone Neoplasms/radiography/surgery/*therapy ; Bone Substitutes/*administration & dosage ; Calcium Sulfate/*administration & dosage ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Curettage ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Injections ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Wound Healing ; Young Adult

Benign bone tumors can be found in the following clinical situations: 1) incidental findings on chest radiograph for health screening without symptoms or radiographs after traffic accident; 2) radiographs for other orthopedic problems, such as osteoarthritis; and 3) pain caused by the tumor. Knowledge of various diseases and their clinical characteristics is required for diagnosis of benign bone tumors. In addition, one should consider carefully whether or not the lesion has the characteristics of benign bone tumor or possibility of malignancy so that proper treatment can be decided. In case the diagnosis cannot be confirmed, even though benign bone tumor is suspected on radiography, follow-up radiographs should be taken to rule-out malignant bone tumors.
Accidents, Traffic ; Diagnosis ; Incidental Findings ; Mass Screening ; Orthopedics ; Osteoarthritis ; Radiography ; Radiography, Thoracic

PURPOSE: Multidisciplinary approaches of surgical resection and chemotherapy have been widely used for the treatment of non-metastatic osteosarcomas. We aimed to assess the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for metastasis and disease-specific survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Authors retrospectively reviewed 225 young (<30 years old) and non-metastatic osteosarcoma patients who underwent surgical resection and postoperative chemotherapy between February 1984 and July 2010. Mean age was 14.4 years old (ranged: 4-29 years old) and average follow-up period was 9.1 years (2-28 years). The patients were divided into two groups according to the application of preoperative chemotherapy. Both groups were compared with clinical characteristics, metastasis-free survival and disease-specific survival. RESULTS: All of 225 patients, 32 patients were treated with postoperative chemotherapy and 193 patients were performed preoperative and postoperative chemotherapy. Postoperative chemotherapy group showed significantly high rate of amputation (p<0.001). Metastasis was occurred in 101 patients. Postoperative chemotherapy group indicated significant higher rate of metastasis (69% vs 41%, p=0.004) and early development of metastasis (mean: 11.5 vs 20.3 months, p=0.045) than pre-and postoperative chemotherapy group. Fifty-seven patients were died of osteosarcoma. Postoperative chemotherapy group revealed significant lower rate of 5-year disease-specific survival than pre-and postoperative chemotherapy group (51% vs 84%, p=0.001). Adult (>15 years) and large sized tumor (>8 cm) were meaningful risk factors of metastasis and disease-specific survival. Although, local recurrences were occurred in 13 patients, there was no significant difference. CONCLUSION: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy offers better disease-specific survival and metastasis-free survival.
Adult ; Amputation ; Extremities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Osteosarcoma ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

There are few reports on the surgical treatment of secondary malignancy arising from an osteochondroma on the lateral side of the proximal tibia. From March 2008 to December 2011, 3 patients were treated for a secondary chondrosarcoma from an osteochondroma of the proximal tibia involving the fibula. The operative procedure can be summed up as follows: (1) resection of the tumor including the fibula; (2) preservation of the peroneal nerve and the fibular head; and (3) arthrodesis of the proximal tibiofibular joint. Serial radiological studies showed successful fusion in the proximal tibiofibular joint in all patients. The Musculoskeletal Tumor Society functional scores were excellent in all 3 patients. No patients showed instability of the ipsilateral knee joint in any direction. All 3 patients could return to sports activities. Until the last follow-up, there was no evidence of disease recurrence. We suggest that the operative procedure described in this article would provide satisfactory oncological and functional outcomes.
Arthrodesis ; Chondrosarcoma* ; Fibula* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee Joint ; Osteochondroma* ; Peroneal Nerve ; Recurrence ; Return to Sport ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Tibia*

PURPOSE: We conducted a nationwide study to assess the incidence and treatment patterns of extremity soft tissue sarcoma (STS) in South Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The nationwide incidence and treatment patterns of extremity STS were assessed using two nationwide databases, the Korea National Cancer Incidence (KNCI) database and the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) database. RESULTS: A total of 1,236 patients were newly diagnosed with extremity STS during the 3-year study period, from 2009 to 2011. The annual incidence of extremity STS in the Korean population was approximately 0.9 per 100,000 people with a male bias that increased with age and was especially pronounced amongst individuals aged > 80 years. Approximately 7% of patients did not receive any treatment, and surgical excision was performed for 85% of those who were treated. CONCLUSION: This is the first nationwide study of the incidence and treatment patterns of extremity STS in Korea using two national databases (KNCI and HIRA), which include the entire Korean population. The results of this study may be useful for future planning and management of STS, at the national level.
Bias (Epidemiology) ; Extremities* ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Insurance, Health* ; Korea* ; Male ; Registries ; Sarcoma*