Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 16, 2026

In Vivo, Percutaneous, Needle Based, Optical Coherence Tomography of Renal Masses
Published on: March 30, 2015
Cathepsin H expression distinguishes oncocytomas from renal cell carcinomas
J P Castrén1, D E Kamel, M J Nurmi
1Department of Pathology, University of Turku, Finland. janne.castren.utu.fi
Background:
Because the differential diagnosis of oncocytoma and renal cell carcinoma lacks specificity, new methods supporting correct diagnostic decisions are welcome.
Material And Methods:
Sixteen cases of renal oncocytoma, and 16 sex-, age-, and stage- matched controls of renal cell carcinoma (T1-2N0M0) were studied. The minimum follow up exceeded ten years. There were no deaths due to neoplasm among oncocytomas, but 4 patient died with metastatic disease among cancer patients. Immunohistochemical staining for cathepsin H was quantified by 3 histoscores. The histoscores evaluated: 1) even cytoplasmic staining of neoplastic cells, 2) granular staining, or 3) total staining.
Results:
100% distinction was possible with the even cytoplasmic staining score. Total staining distinguished 87.5%, and granular staining 25% of neoplasms. CAM 5.2 cytokeratin, or vimentin distinguished 84.4% or 56.6% of these tumors, respectively.
Conclusions:
Cathepsin H histoscore on even cytoplasmic immunostaining is an excellent method for the distinction of oncocytomas and renal cell carcinomas.
Related Concept Videos
The Ras Gene
Ras is a superfamily...
Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Cadherins in Tissue Organization
Cell Sorting During Development
Cell sorting plays an...
