,

 

HISTOLOGY AND HISTOPATHOLOGY

Cellular and Molecular Biology

 

Frequent expression of neuroendocrine markers in mucinous tubular and spindle cell carcinoma of the kidney

N. Kuroda1, O. Hes2, E. Miyazaki1, T. Shuin3 and H. Enzan1

1Department of Pathology, Program of Bioregulation and Genetics and 3Department of Urology, Program of Tumor Biology and Regulation, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Japan and 2Department of Pathology, Charles University Hospital Pilzen, Czech Republic

Offprint requests to: Naoto Kuroda, Department of Pathology, Program of Bioregulation and Genetics, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kohasu, Oko-cho, Nankoku City, Kochi 783-8505, Japan. e-mail: nkuroda@med.kochi-u.ac.jp


Summary. Mucinous tubular and spindle cell carcinoma (MTSCC) is a new tumorous entity which has been recently established. In this article, we examined the expression of neuroendocrine markers including neuron specific enolase (NSE), chromogranin A and synaptophysin in 16 cases of MTSCC using immunohistochemistry. The sex ratio (male: female) of the patients was 4:12. In normal kidney, distal tubules or collecting ducts were positive for NSE, but no structures were positive for chromogranin A or synaptophysin. All MTSCCs showed a positive reaction for NSE. Additionally, fifteen of sixteen neoplasms (93.8%) with MTSCC showed the expression of either chromogranin A or synaptophysin or both. Finally, it is possible that MTSCC may be one of renal neoplasms which frequently exhibit the neuroendocrine differentiation. Histol Histopathol 21, 7-10 (2006)

Key words: Mucinous tubular and spindle cell carcinoma, Immunohistochemistry, Neuroendocrine markers

DOI: 10.14670/HH-21.7