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Query: UMLS:C0029463 (osteosarcoma)
 16,637 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The nuclear phosphoprotein c-Jun is a major component of the AP-1 transcription factor, whose activity is augmented by many oncogenes. An important mechanism to stimulate AP-1 function is N-terminal phosphorylation of c-Jun at the serine residues 63 and 73 by the c-JunN-terminal kinases (JNKs). Mice and cells harboring a mutant allele of c-jun, which has the JNK phosphoacceptor serines changed to alanines (junAA), were used to determine the function of c-Jun N-terminal phosphorylation (JNP) during oncogenic transformation in vitro and in vivo. JunAA immortalized fibroblasts expressing v-ras and v-fos showed reduced tumorigenicity in nude mice, but the efficiency of v-src transformation was unaffected by the lack of JNP. To assess the significance of JNP in tumour development in vivo, two transgenic mouse tumour models were employed. Skin tumour development caused by constitutive activation of the ras pathway by K5-SOS-F expression and c-fos-induced osteosarcoma formation were impaired in mice lacking JNP. Inhibition of JNP may, therefore, be a novel therapeutic strategy to inhibit tumour growth in vivo. Oncogene (2000).
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PMID:Oncogenic transformation by ras and fos is mediated by c-Jun N-terminal phosphorylation. 1085 Oct 65

Dermal or subcutaneous involvement of extraskeletal osteosarcoma is uncommon, and primary cutaneous osteosarcoma of the skin is even rarer, with only few cases well characterized. The authors present 2 cases of this infrequent skin neoplasm. A 76-year-old woman with a nodule on left malar area and an 82-year-old man with a hard nodule on the right temple. First patient's biopsy findings were a dermal lesion mostly composed of malignant osteoid material, with atypical rhabdoid cells intermingled, which was diagnostic of osteoblastic osteosarcoma. Excision of the lesion of the second patient showed a dermal proliferation of atypical spindle-shaped and pleomorphic cells, scattered multinucleated osteoclasts-like cells, and irregular malignant osteoid material. In some fields, atypical cells showed a pseudovascular pattern. Close to this exophytic lesion, a small nest of basal cell carcinoma was observed. Final diagnosis was collision of osteoblastic and telangiectatic primary osteosarcoma and superficial basal cell carcinoma. Both patients have not presented recurrence or metastatic disease after 12 and 9 months of follow-up, respectively. Clinical and histopathologic characteristics of the primary cutaneous osteosarcoma are summarized, and the differential diagnosis of this entity with other benign and malignant skin neoplasms, which can, eventually, show osteoid material.
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PMID:Primary cutaneous osteosarcoma of the skin: a report of 2 cases with emphasis on the differential diagnoses. 2350 16

Primary cutaneous osteosarcoma is an exceedingly rare malignant mesenchymal neoplasm of the skin which produces bone, osteoid, or chondroid material and does not involve the underlying bone. The most common site for extraskeletal osteosarcoma is in the deep soft tissues of the thigh, upper extremities, and retroperitoneum; however, it may occur anywhere in the body. Involvement of the skin is rare and when it does occur it is more commonly due to metastatic disease rather than a primary malignancy. Only 16 cases of primary cutaneous osteosarcoma have been described in the literature. We report an uncommon case of primary cutaneous osteosarcoma. Our patient is an 84-year-old male with an unremarkable medical history who presented to the dermatology clinic complaining of a 0.5 x 0.4 cm pink flesh to translucent-appearing, shiny, papule on the right superior jawline which was not connected to the underlying bone. Clinically the differential diagnosis included basal cell carcinoma, trichoepithelioma, and other cutaneous adnexal tumors. An excisional biopsy was performed which demonstrated an unremarkable epidermis with a hypercellular reticular dermis with occasional large spindled cells with amphophilic cytoplasm. The deep dermis was involved by mature osteoid formation and infiltration of highly mitotically active, atypical epithelioid and spindled cells with abundant nuclear pleomorphism, amphophilic cytoplasm, and poorly defined cell borders. Occasional multinucleate forms were seen. Immunohistochemistry was performed which showed strong positive staining with vimentin. Without connection to the underlying bone, osteosarcoma of periosteal, parosteal, or osseous origin was excluded. Based on these histomorphologic findings, a diagnosis of primary cutaneous osteosarcoma was made. Our case adds to the dearth of literature regarding primary cutaneous osteosarcoma and provides primary care physicians, dermatologists, and pathologists much needed insight into this rare condition.
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PMID:Primary Cutaneous Osteosarcoma. 2999 33