[Fibrous dysplasia: molecular clonality analysis of 21 cases]

To investigate the neoplastic nature of fibrous dysplasia by molecular clonality approaches.

Twenty-one cases of fibrous dysplasia were examined by clonality assays based on X-chromosomal inactivation mosiacism. Lesional and non-lesional tissues were microdissected from paraffin sections followed by DNA extraction. The DNA was predigested by HpaII or HhaI, and then amplified by nested PCR targeting phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) and androgen receptor (AR) genes. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at the PGK locus was identified by incubation of the PCR products with Bst XI and agarose gel electrophoresis, and CAG repeat length polymorphism at AR locus was determined by denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and visualized by silver staining.

Microscopically, all 21 cases showed characteristic features of fibrous dysplasia, including spindle fibrous cell proliferation and immature bone trabeculae at various proportions. DNA polymorphisms at AR locus and SNP of PGK gene were found in 15 of 21, and 4 of 21 cases, respectively. All 19 cases were monoclonal in nature. Two cases showed no polymorphism at either AR or PGK gene locus.

Fibrous dysplasia is likely a clonal, neoplastic process. Additional studies of larger number of cases are needed for a definitive conclusion.