CD40, a membrane glycoprotein of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family, is expressed by several tumor types, including B-cell lymphomas, carcinomas, and melanoma, but little is known concerning its expression by sarcoma. We used flow cytometry to analyze the expression of CD40 in human cell lines derived from 12 osteosarcomas, 6 Ewing's sarcomas, and 5 rhabdomyosarcomas. Detectable CD40 levels ranging from low to very high were found in one-third of osteosarcomas, whereas five of six Ewing's sarcomas expressed intermediate levels of CD40; all rhabdomyosarcomas were CD40-negative. At the tissue level, two of eight primary high-grade osteosarcomas showed CD40-positive immunostaining. Osteosarcoma cells and Ewing's sarcoma cells expressing CD40 were treated with recombinant soluble CD40 ligand to analyze CD40 function. Treatment with soluble CD40 ligand increased the level of apoptotic cells and stimulated the transcription of matrix metalloproteinase 9 gene, enhancing matrix metalloproteinase 9 enzyme secretion. The results indicate that in human osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma, CD40 is a functional receptor whose engagement can have opposite effects on tumor cell survival and malignancy.