Common expression of parathyroid hormone-related protein and no correlation of calcium level in renal cell carcinomas.
BACKGROUND
Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) is the predominant cause of humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM).


METHODS
Using a PTHrP-specific monoclonal antibody (MoAb), 4B3, the authors investigated the immunohistochemical localization of PTHrP in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded sections of normal human kidney tissues and tissues from 42 human renal cell carcinomas obtained at operation or autopsy.


RESULTS
In normal renal tissues, the distal tubules and collecting ducts showed positive immunostaining. PTHrP was detected in 40 of 42 renal cell carcinoma tissues (95%). Histopathologically, the granular cell subtypes of renal cell carcinomas tended to be more strongly positive than the clear cell subtypes. There was no significant correlation between the level of immunostaining and each patient's serum calcium level.


CONCLUSIONS
PTHrP was commonly observed in renal cell carcinomas, and no significant correlation was seen between the intensity of PTHrP staining and the serum calcium level.
Gotoh
A
A
Department of Urology, Kobe University School of Medicine, Japan.
Kitazawa
S
S
Mizuno
Y
Y
Takenaka
A
A
Arakawa
S
S
Matsumoto
O
O
Kitazawa
R
R
Fujimori
T
T
Maeda
S
S
Kamidono
S
S
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D044162:Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C470121:PTHLH protein, human; D044162:Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein; D011506:Proteins; D002118:Calcium