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Hepatocellular carcinoma with osteoclast‐like giant cells: Possibility of osteoclastogenesis by hepatocyte‐derived cells
Author(s) -
Ikeda Tohru,
Seki Sachiko,
Maki Masahiko,
Noguchi Norio,
Kawamura Toru,
Arii Shigeki,
Igari Toru,
Koike Morio,
Hirokawa Katsuiku
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
pathology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.73
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1827
pISSN - 1320-5463
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1827.2003.01503.x
Subject(s) - giant cell , osteoclast , giant cell tumor of bone , rankl , pathology , hepatocellular carcinoma , cd68 , giant cell tumors , cancer research , immunohistochemistry , osteolysis , chemistry , biology , medicine , activator (genetics) , receptor , surgery
Giant cell tumor (GCT) of bone is a primary osteolytic tumor that is characterized by the formation of osteoclast‐like giant cells. In addition to GCT of bone, extraskeletal GCT are known to be formed in several soft tissues. Giant cells in GCT of bone were suggested to be identical to osteoclasts, but the characterization of giant cells in extraskeletal GCT remains incomplete. In this study, a case of sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma with osteoclast‐like giant cells was analyzed. Immunohistochemistry revealed the expression of almost all markers of osteoclasts: tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase, CD68, CD51, CD54 and matrix metalloprotease‐9, in osteoclast‐like giant cells in the tumor. In situ hybridization revealed the expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor‐kappa B (RANK) in the giant cells and receptor activator of nuclear factor‐kappa B ligand (RANKL) in the tumor cells. The hepatic origin of the sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma cells was confirmed by the expression of albumin. This is the first report suggesting that hepatocyte‐derived cells possess the potential for osteoclastogenesis. In addition, these findings suggest that osteoclast‐like cells in the hepatocellular carcinoma were formed by the same mechanism as osteoclastogenesis in bone.