Figure 2

Multivariate Cox's regression hazard analysis: Association of OPN splice variant mRNA expression levels with disease-specific survival of STS patients. Cox's proportional hazard regression models were adjusted to tumor stage, tumor entity, tumor localization and the expression of OPN-a, OPN-b or OPN-c for 68 female STS patients (A.) and 52 STS patients that received radiotherapy (B.). The median values were used as cut-off points to divide the STS patients into two groups: one with high and one with low (reference group) OPN mRNA levels in tumor tissues. A. Increased expressions of OPN-a and OPN-b are strongly associated with a 3.0-fold and a 3.4-fold increased risk of tumor-related death in female STS patients, respectively (P = 0.01, CI = 1.3-6.8; P < 0.01, CI = 1.4-8.2). The STS patients with an increased OPN-c expression level have a 2.3-fold (P = 0.07, CI = 0.9-5.4) increased risk of tumor-related death. B. In STS patients that received radiotherapy, elevated mRNA expression level of OPN-b and OPN-c are significantly correlated with an increased risk of tumor-related death (RR = 10.3, P < 0.01, CI = 2.0-53.7; RR = 11.4, P < 0.01, CI = 2.2-59.3). RT patients with an increased OPN-a mRNA expression level have a 3.5-fold increased risk of tumor-related death, but this result was not significant (P = 0.07, CI = 0.9-13.0).