Clear cell renal cell carcinoma cells show diffuse expression of phagocytotic markers through the identification of lysosome-rich eosinophilic granules.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-2024

Publication Title

International urology and nephrology

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Paneth cell-like granules (PCLG) in clear cell renal cell carcinomas (RCC) have previously been reported but were not found to express neuroendocrine markers. This study was to investigate if the eosinophilic granules (so called PCLG) were enlarged lysosomes.

METHODS: A retrospective review of 72 different renal tumors was conducted which included 42 clear cell RCC, 16 papillary RCC, 6 chromophobe RCC, 5 clear cell papillary RCC, 2 urothelial carcinomas and 1 unclassified RCC. All tumors were evaluated for the eosinophilic granules on hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections. In addition, PAS-D staining, immunohistochemical stains, and electron microscopy were performed.

RESULTS: The eosinophilic granules were found in 19% (8 out of 42) clear cell RCC, but not in the other renal tumor types. The granules stained positively for PAS-D and were also positive for lysosomal protein markers CD68 and lysozyme. Electron microscopy revealed that the eosinophilic granules were smooth ball-shaped structures in the cytoplasm, ranging in size from 0.8 to 1.4 µm. The overall findings indicate that the eosinophilic granules were best correlated with lysosomes.

CONCLUSIONS: The eosinophilic granules in clear cell RCC are expanded lysosomes, and this may be used as a unique feature for confirming the pathologic diagnosis of clear cell RCC. The findings further support the view that clear cell RCC have phagocytic capacity due to their containing abundant lysosomes in the cytoplasm.

Volume

56

Issue

2

First Page

467

Last Page

473

DOI

10.1007/s11255-023-03809-5

ISSN

1573-2584

PubMed ID

37777637

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS