Objective       To identify the expression of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) in human metastatic bone tumors

primary malignant bone tumors and benign bone tumor tissues

and the correlation between its expression and pathologic features of metastatic bone tumor.     Methods       A total of 15 tissue samples of metastatic bone tumor

15 samples of primary malignant bone tumor and 15 samples of benign bone tumor were collected. The mRNA and protein expression of MCP-1 were detected with RT

-PCR and immunohistochemistry

respectively. Image-Pro Plus image analyzer was used to analyze the integrated optical density and positive expression area.     Results       The mRNA level of MCP-1 was higher in metastatic bone tumor than in primary malignant bone tumor and benign bone tumor (0.862±0.042 vs 0.612±0.051 and 0.171±0.021

P0.05). The positive expression of MCP-1 protein was strongly higher in metastatic bone tumor than in primary malignant bone tumor and benign bone tumor tumor (integrated optical density: 4 532.12±190.02 vs 2 592.11±120.21 and 551.22±79.12

positive area: 513.32±89.08 vs 308.34±79.33 and 115.91±32.68 μm

2

P0.05).     Conclusion       MCP-1 is highly expressed in malignant bone tumors and more strongly in metastatic bone tumors.