[The relationship between cell kinetics and histological features of giant cell tumor of the bone]

This study was undertaken to clarify the relationship between the proliferative activity and histological findings of the giant cell tumor (GCT) of bone by means of an epi-illumination cytofluorometer (NIKON SPM-RF1-D). Fresh tissues of GCT were surgically obtained from two cases. In both cases, small pieces of tumor tissues were obtained from several different regions based on the macroscopic characteristics of the cut surface, and processed for single cell preparation using enzymatic method. These isolated cells were smeared and stained with acridine orange, and then analyzed cytofluorometrically to determine simultaneously DNA and RNA contents of the individual cells. The results showed that the proliferative activity of tumor cells was much higher in the regions composed of both many histiocytic stromal cells having polygonal or ovoid shape and many multinucleated giant cells, than either in the regions composed of fibrocytic stromal cells accompanying abundant collagen fibers or in the regions composed of foamy cells.