Collagen Triple Helix Repeat Containing 1 Expression in Osteosarcoma: A New Predictor of Prognosis.

Background: Some studies have demonstrated that the collagen triple helix repeat containing 1 (CTHRC1) protein is abnormally expressed in multiple human solid tumors. We assessed the expression of CTHRC1 in osteosarcoma.

Methods: The CTHRC1 expression status was examined by immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Then, we analyzed the relationship between CTHRC1 expression and clinicopathological characteristics in osteosarcoma patients.

Results: The expression rate of CTHRC1 protein in osteosarcoma was significantly higher than that in adjacent normal tissues. The high expression of CTHRC1 was strongly correlated with the differentiation, recurrence rate, chemotherapy response, and metastasis in patients with osteosarcoma. The survival analysis suggested that high expression of CTHRC1 in osteosarcoma patients correlates with a shorter survival time. Cox regression analysis demonstrated that the prognosis of osteosarcoma patients was closely associated with CTHRC1.

Conclusions: The high CTHRC1 expression indicates the poor prognosis of osteosarcoma patients.