The clinical approach towards chondrosarcoma

This review provides an overview of the histopathology, classification, diagnostic procedures, and therapy of skeletal chondrosarcoma. Chondrosarcomas that arise de novo are primary chondrosarcomas, whereas chondrosarcomas developing superimposed on pre-existing benign cartilage neoplasms such as enchondromas or osteochondromas are referred to as secondary chondrosarcomas. Conventional chondrosarcomas can be categorized according to their location in bone into central, peripheral, and juxtacortical chondrosarcomas. Histological grading is related to prognosis; however, it is also subject to interobserver variability. Rare subtypes of chondrosarcoma, including dedifferentiated, mesenchymal, and clear cell chondrosarcoma, are discussed as well. Magnetic resonance imaging is necessary to delineate the extent of the intraosseous and soft tissue involvement preoperatively. Computed tomography is especially recommended in the pelvis and other flat bones where it may be difficult to discern the pattern of bone destruction and the presence of matrix mineralization. Wide, en-bloc excision is the preferred surgical treatment in intermediate- and high-grade chondrosarcoma. In low-grade chondrosarcoma confined to the bone, extensive intralesional curettage followed by local adjuvant treatment and filling the cavity with bone graft has promising long-term clinical results and satisfactory local control. Chondrosarcomas are relatively radiotherapy resistant; therefore, doses >60 Gy are needed in attempts to achieve local control after incomplete resection. Irradiation with protons or other charged particles seems beneficial in this curative situation. Chemotherapy is only possibly effective in mesenchymal chondrosarcoma, and is of uncertain value in dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma. Potential new systemic treatment targets are being discussed.     

Sox9 在人普通型与去分化型软骨肉瘤差异表达*

目的:探讨Sox9 在人普通软骨肉瘤,去分化软骨肉瘤和正常软骨中的表达。方法:取12例2003年1 月至2007年1 月在北京大学人民医院经病理切片确诊为软骨肉瘤（普通软骨肉瘤6 例,去分化软骨肉瘤6 例）及正常软骨组织（6 例）的新鲜冰冻标本,利用基因芯片的方法分析后,将Sox9 作为候选基因,而后利用Real-time PCR,Western blot和免疫组化的方法比较其在人普通软骨肉瘤,去分化软骨肉瘤和正常软骨组织中的差异表达。结果:基因芯片结果显示:与正常软骨组织相比,Sox9 在普通软骨肉瘤中上调约1.6 倍,在去分化软骨肉瘤中,其表达水平为正常软骨组织表达水平的0.082 倍;Real-time PCR检测结果显示:Sox9mRNA 在普通软骨肉瘤和去分化软骨肉瘤中表达水平分别为1.68± 0.119 和0.088 ± 0.017;Western blot分析表明Sox9 蛋白在人普通软骨肉瘤的表达量明显高于正常软骨组织,在去分化软骨肉瘤中的表达量显著低于正常软骨组织。免疫组化实验结果表明与正常软骨组织相比,6 例普通软骨肉瘤均有Sox9 表达,细胞染色呈较强的阳性,而去分化软骨肉瘤未发现较强阳性细胞出现,只有可疑的阳性细胞散在出现。结论:Sox9 在普通软骨肉瘤中的表达水平明显高于正常软骨组织,在去分化软骨肉瘤中的表达水平显著低于正常软骨组织。Sox9 在去分化软骨肉瘤中低水平表达与去分化软骨肉瘤疾病进展快,预后差呈正向相关。      

Bone sarcomas associated with Ollier's disease

Of 55 patients with Ollier's disease seen at the Mayo Clinic between 1907 and 1985, 16 had malignant bone neoplasms: 12 chondrosarcomas, two dedifferentiated chondrosarcomas, one chordoma, and one osteosarcoma. One patient had a chondrosarcoma in two different bones. These findings suggest that approximately 30% of patients with Ollier's disease will develop a malignant bone neoplasm, most probably chondrosarcoma. The prognosis for most patients is good. Five of the 16 patients survived more than 13 years after treatment.     

Rb-loss is associated with high malignancy in chondrosarcoma

Loss of function of the human retinoblastoma gene (Rb) is a frequent genetic abnormality in human malignancies and causes a disturbance in the cell cycle and loss of normal proliferation and differentiation. We studied the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of the Rb gene in 31 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded cartilaginous tumors using polymerase chain reaction. The tumors were subdivided into 8 cases of dedifferentiated (DD) chondrosarcoma, 17 cases of conventional chondrosarcoma (nine grade 1, seven grade 2 and one grade 3), 4 enchondromas and 2 chondroblastomas. Both components of DD chondrosarcoma, the low-grade and anaplastic components, were separated by a microdissection approach. The genetic data were correlated with the expression of the Rb protein examined by Rb immunohistochemistry. We found Rb-LOH in one grade 3 chondrosarcoma, and in the anaplastic component in 7 of 8 cases of DD chondrosarcoma (89% of all high-grade chondrosarcomas). All tumors with Rb-LOH were immunohistochemically Rb-negative. The only case of DD chondrosarcoma negative for Rb-LOH in both components of the tumor also showed weak expression of the Rb protein in the anaplastic component. All benign cartilaginous tumors, low-grade chondrosarcomas and low-grade tumor components of DD chondrosarcomas were negative regarding Rb-LOH but positive in Rb immunohistostaining. We concluded that Rb-LOH predominantly occurs in high-grade chondrosarcomas. However, it is not a marker for identifying low-grade tumors with a tendency towards progression or local recurrence.     

Central nervous system mesenchymal chondrosarcoma

Central nervous system mesenchymal chondrosarcomas are rare malignant tumors that constitute a separate entity from the classical chondrosarcoma and myxoid variant. Clinical behaviour of central nervous system chondrosarcomas is still unknown. We describe two rare examples of intracranial mesenchymal chondrosarcoma with a review of the literature, in an attempt to clarify the clinical characteristics, prognosis and treatment of choice of these unusual tumors. Among the 55 reported cases, 23 had postoperative radiotherapy. Although there is no statistical significance according to the Log-Rank test (p=0.7), the patients treated with radiation therapy seem to have a better chance of survival. Patients who had adjuvant chemotherapy (only 5) showed survival times similar to those patients who had none. Although clinical behaviour of central nervous system chondrosarcomas remains to be defined, data from our series as well as literature show that radical removal is the best therapeutic choice. In addition, patients treated with postoperative radiotherapy seem to show a trend toward increased survival.     

p53 expression in dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma

Background. p53 acts as a tumor suppressor gene because of to its negative control of the cell cycle and its central role in programmed cell death. It frequently is mutated, as observed in a variety of human neoplasms. The mutations inhibit tumor-suppressor activities of p53, which may gain a new function of tumor promotion. In this study, p53 was investigated in various components of dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma and correlated with their proliferative activities. Methods. Immunohistochemical assays for p53, Ki-67, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were used in a series of eight dedifferentiated chondrosarcomas of bone. The cartilaginous component was low grade (Grade I-II) in five cases. It was predominantly low grade with foci of a high grade (Grade III) chondrosarcoma in the remaining three cases. The noncartilaginous (de-differentiated) high grade component consisted of malignant fibrous histiocytoma in five cases and osteosarcoma in three. Results. Regardless of the histological type, diffuse strong nuclear staining for p53 occurred in the high grade noncartilaginous component of all eight of the tumors. The low grade cartilaginous component of six cases was negative for p53, with focal weak staining in the two remaining cases. The high grade cartilaginous component showed strong positive staining for this protein in all three cases. Ki-67 and PCNA expression were similar to that of p53. Conclusions. The percentage of p53 positive staining roughly was parallel to the proliferating fraction of cells in various components of dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma. Moreover, p53 overexpression was consistently present in the high grade noncartilaginous (dedifferentiated) component of the tumor and was accompanied by increased proliferative activity. Cancer 1995; 76:223-7.     

A common cytogenetic abnormality and DNA content alterations in dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma

Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma is an uncommon and aggressive variant of chondrosarcoma. The authors report the flow cytometric characteristics and cytogenetic findings in culture of two cases of dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma. The first case was DNA diploid by flow cytometry but had cytogenetic abnormalities consisting of breaks in the short arms of both chromosomes 1, resulting in deletion in one homolog and recombination in the other. In addition, cells from this tumor showed a balanced translocation between chromosomes 4 and 5, deletion of chromosome 9, and monosomy for chromosome 10. The second case was DNA aneuploid and more complex cytogenetically but had, in common with the first case, rearrangement and translocation at the same band on chromosome 1. These cytogenetic changes are compared with abnormalities previously reported for chondrosarcoma. Possible relationships between the nonrandom chromosomal abnormalities and subclassification among chondrosarcomas are discussed.     

Secondary peripheral chondrosarcoma evolving from osteochondroma as a result of outgrowth of cells with functional EXT

Secondary peripheral chondrosarcoma is the result of malignant transformation of a pre-existing osteochondroma, the most common benign bone tumor. Osteochondromas are caused by genetic abnormalities in EXT1 or EXT2: homozygous deletion of EXT1 characterizes sporadic osteochondromas (non-familial/solitary), and germline mutations in EXT1 or EXT2 combined with loss of heterozygosity define hereditary multiple osteochondromas. While cells with homozygous inactivation of EXT and wild-type cells shape osteochondromas, the cellular composition of secondary peripheral chondrosarcomas and the role of EXT in their formation have remained unclear. We report using a targeted-tiling-resolution oligo-array-CGH (array comparative genomic hybridization) that homozygous deletions of EXT1 or EXT2 are much less frequently detected (2/17, 12%) in sporadic secondary peripheral chondrosarcomas than expected based on the assumption that they originate in sporadic osteochondromas, in which homozygous inactivation of EXT1 is found in ~80% of our cases. FISH with an EXT1 probe confirmed that, unlike sporadic osteochondromas, cells from sporadic secondary peripheral chondrosarcomas predominantly retained one (hemizygous deleted loci) or both copies (wild-type) of the EXT1 locus. By immunohistochemistry, we confirm the presence of cells with dysfunctional EXT1 in sporadic osteochondromas and show cells with functional EXT1 in sporadic secondary peripheral chondrosarcomas. These immuno results were verified in osteochondromas and secondary peripheral chondrosarcomas in the setting of hereditary multiple osteochondromas. Our data therefore point to a model of oncogenesis in which the osteochondroma creates a niche in which wild-type cells with functional EXT are predisposed to acquire other mutations giving rise to secondary peripheral chondrosarcoma, indicating that EXT-independent mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of secondary peripheral chondrosarcoma.     

Chondrosarcoma with dedifferentiated foci. A comparative and ultrastructural study.

The light and electron microscopic features of a well-differentiated chondrosarcoma with dedifferentiated foci (CDF) are compared with those of a poorly differentiated chondrosarcoma with spindle cell elements. The differentiation of this lesion from mesenchymal chondrosarcoma and from primitive multipotential primary sarcoma of bone is discussed. Ultrastructurally, the cells of the cartilaginous region of the CDF resembled those of the poorly differentiated chondrosarcoma and of the cartilaginous zones of an extraskeletal mesenchymal chondrosarcoma reported by Fu and Kay, and were characterised by an abundance of dilated endoplasmic reticulum and a scalloped and microvillous cell membrane. The stroma was devoid of mature crossbanded collagen fibers. The dedifferentiated portion was composed of mesenchymal-type cells surrounded by a relatively sparse matrix containing scanty mature collagen fibers; these cells resembled those in the cellular regions of the two previously documented mesenchymal chondrosarcomas but differed from the cartilaginous type cells in the cellular regions of the poorly differentiated chondrosarcoma.     

去分化软骨肉瘤的诊断及治疗进展*

去分化软骨肉瘤（DDCS）约占所有软骨肉瘤的10% ,预后极差,5 年生存率不到10% 。好发于股骨、肱骨和骨盆。DDCS是软骨肉瘤中的一个独特类型。典型的特点是分化良好的软骨样成分和高度恶性的间充质细胞来源的肉瘤成分并存、毗邻。DDCS的诊断非常复杂,需要详细的影像学和病理学检查及准确的活检。DDCS去分化成分可以是骨肉瘤、恶性纤维组织细胞瘤,甚至是任何级别的未分化肉瘤成分。约1/3 的X 光片,1/3 的MR,一多半的CT扫描,DDCS表现为典型的“双态”征。最近利用微阵列- 比较基因组杂交技术,发现反复发生的5q14.2~q21.3,6q16~q25.3,9p24.2~q12和9p21.3。染色体缺失更多见于高度恶性的软骨肉瘤（3 级和DDCS）,该差异具有统计学意义。9 号染色体的缺失是DDCS最常见的染色体缺失。早期研究发现DDCS的去分化成分有p53和p53杂合性的丢失现象,进一步研究发现同时伴随Rb基因杂合性的丢失。DDCS的两种成分可出现p16INK 4,FHIT和E-cadherin（上皮型钙黏附蛋白）甲基化的异常。手术切除包括合适足够的外科切缘或根治性的切除,是目前DDCS最主要的治疗手段。化疗效果目前仍然不确定。最近针对软骨肉瘤（包括DDCS）发现了一些新的药物靶标,有些已经进入临床Ⅱ期试验阶段,其中包括Apomab、Perifosine （哌立福新）、Dasatinib（达沙替尼）和多烯紫杉醇联合吉西他滨的联合化疗。同时几个Ⅰ期药物临床试验报告针对DDCS新的有效药物,如组蛋白去乙酰酶抑制剂和血管内皮生长因子反义寡合甘酸。DDCS患者预后极差,预后主要由DDCS中的去分化成分决定。因此,早期诊断、早手术对改善患者的预后非常关键。      

MYC amplification and polysomy 8 in chondrosarcoma: array comparative genomic hybridization, fluorescent in situ hybridization, and association with outcome.

PURPOSE: To identify recurrent regions of genomic gain or loss in chondrosarcoma in a clinically relevant and statistically valid fashion. Materials and METHODS: Array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) results of 15 frozen tumor samples of high-grade chondrosarcoma for chromosome 8 are presented. A separate subset of 116 cartilaginous tumors with outcome data was used for validation. RESULTS: Array CGH identified gain at 8q24.12-q24.13, the region of the MYC (c-Myc) oncogene, as a frequent change in high-grade chondrosarcoma. In the validation arm of 116 cartilaginous tumors, MYC was frequently amplified in G2 (15%), G3 (20%), and dedifferentiated (21%) chondrosarcomas. No amplification was identified in samples of enchondroma and grade 1 chondrosarcoma. In samples without MYC amplification, polysomy 8 was a frequent finding in grade 1 (18%), grade 2 (31%), grade 3 (80%), and dedifferentiated (29%) chondrosarcomas, but was not found in any samples of enchondroma. MYC protein expression was identified in all samples with amplification, but was also frequent in the remaining samples without amplification or polysomy 8. Kaplan-Meier survival curves for overall survival showed a statistically significant difference for patients with MYC amplification or polysomy 8 (P = .034). Univariate analysis involving Cox proportional hazards models showed that grade (P = .003), polysomy 8 (P = .045), and MYC amplification (P = .053) correlated with shorter overall survival. By multivariate analysis, grade of chondrosarcoma (P = .026) was the only factor to reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: MYC amplification and polysomy 8 can be used as markers of prognostic importance in chondrosarcoma. Molecular targeting of MYC expression may have therapeutic potential in the future for subsets of chondrosarcoma.     

Advanced chondrosarcomas: role of chemotherapy and survival

BackgroundThere are limited data about the role of chemotherapy in patients withadvanced chondrosarcomas.MethodsThe medical charts of 180 patients with advanced chondrosarcomas having received chemotherapy in 15 participating institutions between 1988 and 2011 were reviewed.ResultsMedian age was 52 years. Sixty-three percent of patients had conventional chondrosarcoma and 88% had metastatic disease. Combination chemotherapy was delivered in 98 cases (54.5%). One hundred and thirty-one patients (73%) received an anthracycline-containing regimen. Using RECIST, the objective response rate was significantly different according to histological subtype, being 31% for mesenchymal chondrosarcoma, 20.5% for dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma, 11.5% for conventional chondrosarcoma and 0% for clear-cell chondrosarcoma (P = 0.04). Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 4.7 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 3–6.5]. Performance status (PS) ≥2, number of metastatic sites ≥1 and single-agent regimen were independently associated with poor PFS. Median overall survival (OS) was 18 months (95% CI 14.5–21.6). PS, number of metastatic sites and palliative surgery were independently associated with OS.ConclusionsConventional chemotherapy have very limited efficacy in patients with advanced chondrosarcoma, the highest benefit being observed in mesenchymal and dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma. These data should be used as a reference for response and outcome in the assessment of investigational drugs in advanced chondrosarcoma.     

Similar cytogenetic findings in two synchronous secondary peripheral chondrosarcomas in a patient with multiple osteochondromas

Secondary peripheral chondrosarcoma is a malignant chondroid tumor arising in a benign precursor, either an osteochondroma or an enchondroma. Multiple osteochondromas syndrome (MO) is an autosomal dominant skeletal disorder associated with bony growths in the form of osteochondromas that occasionally undergo malignant transformation to secondary peripheral chondrosarcomas. We describe the genetic examination of three secondary peripheral chondrosarcomas that had arisen synchronously from osteochondromas in a patient with MO by chromosome banding, high resolution chromosomal comparative genomic hybridization, and mutation analysis of the EXT1 and EXT2 genes. In two of the tumors (the third was not genetically informative), very similar chromosome abnormalities were found, indicating that they must somehow be part of the same neoplastic process in spite of being anatomically distinct.     

Clear-cell chondrosarcoma: a report of five cases including ultrastructural study.

Five cases of clear-cell variant of chondrosarcoma (Unni et al.) are reported. The tumors occurred in the epiphyseal region of long bones; three in the femoral head. Roentgenographically, the lesion was usually a well-defined and benign appearing one, either purely lytic (3 cases) or with central radiodensity (2 cases). Histologically, all five cases had areas of conventional chondrosarcoma; however, the greater portion of the tumor was made up of sheets of clear-cells intermixed with nonneoplastic bone trabeculae but devoid of chondroid matrix. Electron microscopic studies showed that these clear-cells possess cytoplasmic microvilli, abundant glycogen particles and prominent golgi complexes, like normal or tumorous chondroid cells usually have. In our experience, the best treatment seemed to be en bloc resection with joint replacement; indeed, despite the fact that they are true chondrosarcomas, these tumors usually have a very slow rate of growth.     

Update on chondrosarcomas

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This paper reviews recent molecular, biologic, developmental therapeutic, and clinical findings in conventional and variant chondrosarcomas. RECENT FINDINGS: The prognosis of chondrosarcomas traditionally correlates with histologic grade and adequacy of surgery. Newer markers of cell differentiation, activation, genetics, and cell signaling may offer important prognostic information. Translational research has validated platelet-derived growth factor receptor, estrogen signaling, matrix metalloproteinase-1, histone deacetylase, methylthioadenosine phosphorylase, and vascular endothelial growth factor-A as potential therapeutic targets. Bisphosphonates may also possess important antitumoral effects. Molecular studies have established that extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma is a unique entity defined by the presence of a fusion gene between the orphan nuclear receptor, CHN/NOR1, and a promiscuous partner, most commonly EWSR1. Clinical studies have shown that development of second malignancies is an uncommon but real risk for chondrosarcoma survivors; the benefit of chemotherapy for dedifferentiated chondrosarcomas remains questionable; and late recurrences of clear cell chondrosarcomas emphasize the need for long-term follow up. SUMMARY: Chondrosarcomas are a heterogeneous group of bone and soft tissue tumors. Recent advances in molecular diagnostics, pathobiology, and developmental therapeutics will aid both scientists and clinicians in improving the classification and therapy of this diverse family of cartilaginous tumors.     

Dedifferentiated parosteal osteosarcoma: the experience of the Rizzoli Institute

BACKGROUND: Dedifferentiated parosteal osteosarcoma (DPOS) is a variant of osteosarcoma in which a high-grade sarcoma coexists with a conventional parosteal osteosarcoma (c-POS), either at presentation (synchronous type) or at the time of recurrence (metachronous type). Only approximately 60 patients have been reported in the literature. The objective of this study was to analyze the clinicopathologic and radiographic features of a relatively large number of patients with DPOS in an attempt to define further the histologic and biologic behavior of this rare entity. METHODS: In a series of 120 patients with parosteal osteosarcoma who were seen at the Rizzoli Institute from 1958 to 2000, the authors identified 29 patients who were diagnosed with DPOS. The authors reviewed the clinical and radiologic features, histologic sections, treatments, and outcomes in this group of patients with DPOS. RESULTS: Twelve patients were male, and 17 patients were female. The patients ranged in age from 15 years to 65 yrs (average, 36 years; median, 32 years). One tumor involved the scapula, one involved the ilium, and another involved the skull. All 26 of the other tumors were located in the long bones (14 in the femur, 5 in the humerus, 3 in the tibia, 3 in the fibula, and 1 in the ulna). In 18 patients, radiographic areas of lucency were seen within an otherwise sclerotic lesion. Histologically, the dedifferentiated component was high-grade osteoblastic osteosarcoma in 14 patients, fibroblastic osteosarcoma in 10 patients, giant cell-rich osteosarcoma in 3 patients, and chondroblastic osteosarcoma in 2 patients. All tumors were Stage IIB, and invasion of the medullary canal was detected in 19 patients (65%). Twenty-eight patients underwent surgery, and 18 of those patients received chemotherapy (5 patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and 13 patients received adjuvant). Nine patients were dead and 20 patients were alive (average follow-up, 107 months; range, from 3 months to 36 years) at the last follow-up. Of the nine patients who died, one patient received no treatment, five patients underwent surgery (with three patients achieving adequate margins) in combination with chemotherapy, and three patients underwent surgery only (with adequate margins achieved). Of the 20 patients who remained alive, 13 patients underwent surgery (with 10 patients achieving adequate margins) in combination with chemotherapy, whereas 7 patients underwent surgery only (all with adequate margins). Seven of the nine patients who died had widespread metastases. One patient died of causes unrelated to the tumor, and another patient died shortly after undergoing resection of a lesion in the skull. CONCLUSIONS: Dedifferentiation occurred in approximately 24% of patients with c-POS. The prognosis for patients with DPOS was better than the prognosis for patients with dedifferentiated central and dedifferentiated peripheral chondrosarcoma.     

15例骨和软组织内间叶性软骨肉瘤临床病理分析

目的 探讨原发间叶性软骨肉瘤的临床特点、诊断和鉴别诊断依据。方法 复习本院15例骨及软组织原发问叶性软骨肉瘤的临床资料和病理学特征（包括对HE染色、免疫组化染色切片的观察分析），对14例行密切随访。结果 10年内15例间叶性软骨肉瘤占同期软骨肉瘤总数的9．4％，占小细胞恶性肿瘤的0．3％，占全部骨肿瘤的7．4％。患者年龄14～70岁，平均42岁。86％的患者存11-40岁之间，无明显性别差异。其中骨内发病13例，软组织内原发肿瘤2例。2例有外伤史。诊断初期多中心性发病者5例，患者多主诉局部疼痛伴肿胀。影像学特征与普通型软骨肉瘤相似，表现为伴有点状钙化的大片溶骨性破坏。组织学表现通常具有双相性，表现为间变的未分化间叶性小细胞与分化较好的分叶状肿瘤性软骨及软骨样基质并存。两种组织之间界限较清晰，移行区可见肿瘤细胞成软骨现象。免疫组织化学显示小细胞区CD99阳性，CollagenII在小细胞区和软骨区均阳性，部分病例CgA、Ki-67、P53有阳性表达，Syn在少数病例有阳性表达。本组患者最长在确诊后7年内死亡，最短在9个月内死亡，其中2例70岁以上的患者均在2年内死于肿瘤转移。结论 间叶性软骨肉瘤少见且预后差。虽然具有典型组织学特征，其诊断和鉴别诊断仍很困难。特别是在穿刺标本中，未穿到软骨性成分时与其他小细胞恶性肿瘤鉴别困难，未穿到小细胞成分时与其他类型软骨肉瘤鉴别困难。诊断中除仔细观察HE和免疫组化染色切片外，还需密切结合临床资料和影像学特征。     

Chondrosarcoma of the phalanx: a locally aggressive lesion with minimal metastatic potential: a report of 35 cases and a review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Enchondroma is the most common primary benign bone tumor of the hand, especially the phalanges, whereas chondrosarcoma is uncommon at this site. Although phalangeal chondrosarcoma may have ominous histologic features, its biologic behavior is relatively indolent. METHODS: Thirty-five cases of phalangeal lesions previously diagnosed as chondrosarcoma were studied. Histologic and tumor-biologic parameters (Ki-67 and p53 immunohistochemistry) were investigated and correlated with clinical behavior. RESULTS: All cases were characterized by unequivocal malignant histologic features (Grade 2 or higher) or Grade 1 malignant histologic features combined with the presence of cortical destruction and soft tissue extension. The median age of the patients at the time of diagnosis was 67 years (range 21-87 years), with a slight female predominance. Occurrence in the hand was more common than in the foot, with the proximal phalanx affected most often. Treatment varied from local therapy (curettage or local excision) in 16 patients to amputation or exarticulation in 19 cases. Follow-up ranged from 8-432 months for 28 patients. Ten of 15 tumors treated by local therapy recurred whereas none of 13 tumors treated by radical surgery recurred. The median survival was 20.8 years; none of 28 patients developed metastases nor died of disease. Both the type of treatment and localization in the proximal phalanx were associated independently with local recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Phalangeal chondrosarcoma behaves as a locally aggressive lesion and, in contrast to chondrosarcomas located elsewhere, rarely metastasizes. Treatment is indicated only because of its locally destructive growth. The authors believe that given the excellent survival data, curettage with adequate follow-up should be considered as the treatment of choice if technically feasible, especially in those cases in which amputation would lead to a significant loss of hand function.     

Runx2 在去分化软骨肉瘤细胞系中的表达及其意义

 目的　检测Runx2基因在去分化软骨肉瘤中与普通软骨肉瘤中的表达差异,进一步明确Runx2在去分化软骨肉瘤发生发展中的意义。方法　培养去分化软骨肉瘤细胞系NDCS-1及普通软骨肉瘤细胞系SW1353,提取细胞mRNA及总蛋白,RT-PCR、Western blotting及细胞免疫学检测Runx2在细胞系中的表达,之后对病理证实的去分化软骨肉瘤进行免疫组织化学染色,检测其在组织中的表达。结果　RT-PCR和Western blotting结果显示与普通软骨肉瘤细胞系SW1353相比,Runx2在去分化软骨肉瘤细胞系NDCS-1中高表达;免疫组织化学结果显示与普通软骨肉瘤成分相比,Runx2 在组织中的高度恶性成分中高表达。结论　Runx2在去分化软骨肉瘤中的高表达参与了去分化软骨肉瘤的发生和发展。     

Chondrosarcoma of the scapula: long-term oncologic outcome

BACKGROUND: Chondrosarcoma is the second most common primary sarcoma of bone. It often develops within flat bones, such as the pelvis, ribs, and scapula. In the current study, the authors reviewed the surgical experience and long-term oncologic outcomes of patients with chondrosarcoma arising in the scapula. METHODS: The medical records of 29 consecutive patients with chondrosarcoma of the scapula were reviewed. The patients were treated between 1954 and 1994. All patients had localized disease at the time of presentation. The tumors were classified histologically as Grade 1 (10 patients), Grade 2 (10 patients), Grade 3 (7 patients), dedifferentiated (1 patient), and mesenchymal (1 patient) (using the criteria of Evans et al.). The mean maximal dimension of the tumors was 11 cm. Twenty-five patients underwent limb-sparing surgical resection and 4 patients underwent forequarter amputations. The median follow-up was 13 years (range, 1-35 years). RESULTS: At last follow-up, 22 patients (76%) were free of disease and 7 patients (24%) had died of their disease. Local recurrence occurred in 4 patients at 7 months, 16 months, 40 months, and 43 months, respectively. The local recurrence-free survival rate was 86% at 5 years, 10 years, and 20 years. Disease-specific survival was 83% at 5 years, 74% at 10 years, and 74% at 20 years. Patients who had low-grade chondrosarcomas had better survival compared with patients who had high-grade chondrosarcomas (P = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: Patients who had localized chondrosarcoma of the scapula had a favorable long-term outcome, most likely due to the unique anatomic features that improved the likelihood of achieving wide surgical margins with limb-sparing surgery, despite the frequent presentation of locally advanced disease.