engleski

APOPTOSIS IN CHROMOPHOBE RENAL CELL CARCINOMA AND RENAL ONCOCYTOMA

Introduction Renal oncocytoma is a benign epithelial tumor, composed of oncocytes, large eosinophilic cells. It represents 3-9% of renal tumors. Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (ChRCC) is a distinct subtype of renal cell carcinoma and comprises approximately 5% of all renal tumors. Two main variants are classic and eosinophilic ChRCC. Although considered less aggressive than other renal cell carcinomas, ChRCC has a metastatic potential. Due to overlapping morphological characteristics of renal oncocytoma and ChRCC, particularly its eosinophilic variant with the abundant granular eosinophilic cytoplasm, making a correct diagnosis can be challenging. Aim The aim of this study was to assess and compare the apoptotic index, defined as the absolute number of apoptotic cells per 10 high power fields (HPFs), in the two tumor groups. Materials and methods The files from Ljudevit Jurak Univesity Department of Pathology, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital were searched for cases of histologically confirmed ChRCCs and renal oncocytomas. Slides of 10 ChRCCs and 10 renal oncocytomas, stained by haematoxylin and eosin were analyzed under the light microscope. Apoptotic cell was defined as a cell with dense, eosinophilic cytoplasm and picnotic or defragmented nucleus. The absolute number of apoptotic cells per 10 HPFs in the two tumor groups was counted. Results In the group of renal oncocytomas there were average 7.8 % apoptotic cells per 10 HPFs (range 4-12). In the group of ChRCCs there were 2.5% apoptotic cells per 10 HPFs (range 1-6). Discussion Apoptosis is the process of programmed cell death. Dysregulation of apoptosis is a key process in cancer development and progression. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the apoptotic index in the two tumor groups. Altough there is a visible difference in the average number of apoptotic cells between the two tumor groups, this study is partially limited by the modest number of cases and further studies are needed to explore the possible use of assessing the apoptotic index in the differential diagnosis between renal oncocytoma and ChRCC.

apoptosis; chromophobe renal cell carcinoma; renal oncocytoma

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