Nestin expression in osteosarcomas and derivation of nestin/CD133 positive osteosarcoma cell lines
2008

Nestin Expression in Osteosarcomas

Sample size: 18 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Renata Veselska, Marketa Hermanova, Tomas Loja, Petr Chlapek, Iva Zambo, Karel Vesely, Karel Zitterbart, Jaroslav Sterba

Primary Institution: Masaryk University, Czech Republic

Hypothesis

The study aimed to examine nestin expression in osteosarcomas and derive nestin/CD133 positive osteosarcoma cell lines.

Conclusion

The study provides the first evidence of nestin expression in osteosarcomas and suggests the presence of cells with a stem-like phenotype in these tumors.

Supporting Evidence

  • Nestin-positive tumor cells were detected in all examined osteosarcomas.
  • The proportion of nestin-positive cells varied among the samples.
  • Three of the established osteosarcoma cell lines were found to be nestin-positive.

Takeaway

The researchers found a protein called nestin in all the osteosarcoma samples they looked at, which might mean there are special cancer cells that act like stem cells in these tumors.

Methodology

Immunodetection methods were used to examine nestin in tumor tissue samples from 18 patients and to establish permanent cell lines from the tumor tissue of 4 patients.

Limitations

The study was limited to a small sample size and focused only on specific types of osteosarcomas.

Participant Demographics

9 males and 9 females, age range: 8–57 years old, mean age 21 years.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2407-8-300

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