Microvessel Density (MVD) in Patients with Osteosarcoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

A meta-analysis was designed and conducted to estimate the effect of tumoral microvessel density (MVD) on the survival of patients with osteosarcoma. There was no difference between high and low MVD regarding the overall (OS) and disease-free (DFS) survival. Low MVD tumors displayed a lower DFS at the third year of follow-up. Although primary metastases did not affect the mean MVD measurements, tumors with a good chemotherapy response had a higher MVD value. Although no significant differences between tumoral MVD, OS and DFS were found, good adjuvant therapy responders had a significant higher vascularization pattern.

Keywords:

• Microvessel
• density
• osteosarcoma
• angiogenesis
• meta-analysis

Author contributions

Study conception and design: Perivoliotis K, Ntellas P

Acquisition of data: Perivoliotis K, Ntellas P, Samara AA

Analysis and interpretation of data: Perivoliotis K, Dadouli K

Drafting of manuscript: Perivoliotis K, Dadouli K, Samara AA

Critical revision: Ioannou M, Sotiriou S, Tepetes K

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

PRISMA 2009 checklist statement

This Systematic Review was conducted according to PRISMA Guidelines.

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.