Osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is the most frequently occurring primary bone cancer in children and adolescents, and third-most frequent in adults, with a low 20% survival rate for those with metastatic spread. Osteosarcoma is believed to arise from mutations in mesenchymal stem cells, which later differentiate into osteoblasts to form bone. Exosomes, or extracellular vesicles released into liquid (blood, urine, etc.), play important roles in promoting osteosarcoma (angiogenesis, inflammation, others) and MSC behavior. Like exosomes, extracellular vesicles residing in the ECM contain microRNA cargo to direct cell fate. We now have a better understanding of how tumor progression occurs due to exosome-mediated communication; however, we lack an understanding of how cell-matrix communication mediated by matrix-bound nanovesicles (MBV) and the ECM influence osteosarcoma tumor progression. Our lab plans to study these new extracellular vesicles and their involvement in osteosarcoma and their potential as a diagnostic and therapeutic for this disease.