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Breast carcinoma with osteoclastlike giant cells
Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
|July 1, 1986
Summary
Osteoclastlike giant cells in breast carcinoma are of mesenchymal origin, not epithelial. These cells were observed in primary tumors, recurrences, and metastases, suggesting a broader role in various carcinomas.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pathology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Osteoclastlike giant cells (OGCs) are rare in breast carcinoma.
- Their origin and significance in malignant neoplasms require further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the origin and characteristics of osteoclastlike giant cells in breast carcinomas.
- To determine the presence of these cells in recurrent and metastatic lesions.
Main Methods:
- Histopathological examination of seven breast carcinoma cases.
- Ultrastructural analysis of tumor tissues.
- Histochemical staining to differentiate cell origins.
Main Results:
- Osteoclastlike giant cells were identified in all seven primary breast carcinomas studied.
- These cells were also present in lymph node metastases and recurrent tumors.
- Ultrastructural and histochemical findings indicated a mesenchymal, not epithelial, origin for the giant cells.
Conclusions:
- Osteoclastlike giant cells in breast cancer are of mesenchymal origin.
- Their presence in primary tumors, metastases, and recurrences suggests they are a feature of the tumor microenvironment.
- These cells may appear in diverse carcinoma types, warranting further investigation into their role in tumor progression.