title: Giant-cell tumour of bone: cytological studies.
abstract: Cell-surface markers were investigated in 7 patients with giant-cell tumours and 30 patients with other tumours as controls. 25--55% of mononuclear cells in giant-cell tumours showed immunoglobulin-mediated phagocytosis. These phagocytic cells showed rapid adherence, trypsin resistance and potent nonspecific esterase activity. Thus, giant-cell tumours contained considerable numbers of macrophages with typical characteristics and functions. Macrophages did not proliferate in cultures of giant-cell tumours, whereas the non-adherent cells did. Further, established cell lines from these tumours consisted of spindle-shaped cells without surface markers or the ability to phagocytose or display nonspecific esterase activity. We consider that macrophages, which may be precursors of giant cells in giant-cell tumours, are non-malignant cells of host origin rather than tumour cells acquiring some properties of macrophages. We found that macrophages were more abundant in giant-cell tumours than in other tumours of mesenchymal origin, but any effect of their presence on the clinical behaviour and prognosis of the tumour remains highly speculative.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004950:Esterases / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005870:Giant Cell Tumors / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010587:Phagocytosis; D012397:Rosette Formation
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D004950:Esterases