RESUMEN
PURPOSE: To detect protein expressions of insulin-like growth factor II messenger ribonucleic acid-binding protein 3 (IMP3) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in osteosarcoma tissues and explore the relationships of protein expressions of IMP3 and VEGF with stage, microvessel density (MVD) and pulmonary metastasis of osteosarcoma patients. METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect protein expressions of IMP3 and VEGF in 37 cases of osteosarcoma, and their correlations with stage, MVD and pulmonary metastasis of osteosarcoma patients were analyzed in combination with clinical data. RESULTS: Protein expressions of IMP3 and VEGF in osteosarcoma were significantly higher than those in normal tissues adjacent to the tumor (p<0.05, p<0.05). The distribution of stage III in osteosarcoma patients with high protein expressions of IMP3 and VEGF increased. With the enhancement of protein expressions of IMP3 and VEGF, MVD elevated, the probability of pulmonary metastasis increased, and the survival time decreased markedly in osteosarcoma patients. CONCLUSIONS: High expressions of IMP3 and VEGF are positively correlated with stage, MVD and pulmonary metastasis of osteosarcoma, and can be applied as potential indicators of the malignant degree of osteosarcoma and the prognosis of patients.