Multinucleated giant cells of bladder mucosa are modified telocytes: Diagnostic and immunohistochemistry algorithm and relation to PD-L1 expression score
DESCRIPTION
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND
Multinucleated giant cells (MGCs) in bladder carcinomas are poorly studied. AIM To describe the function, morphogenesis, and origin of mononuclear and MGCs in urothelial carcinoma (UC) of the bladder in Bulgarian and French patients.
METHODS
Urothelial bladder carcinomas (n = 104) from 2016-2020 were analyzed retrospectively using immunohistochemical (IHC) and histochemical stain examination. Giant cells in the bladder stroma were found in 35.6% of cases, more often in high-grades.
RESULTS
We confirm that MGCs in the mucosa in UC of the bladder were positive for both mesenchymal and myofibroblast markers (vimentin, smooth muscle actin, Desmin, and CD34) and the macrophage marker CD68. Furthermore, IHC studies revealed the following profile of these cells: Positive for p16; negative for epithelial (CK AE1/AE3 and GATA-3), vascular (CD31), neural (PS100 and C-KIT), cambial, blastic (CD34-blasts and C-KIT), and immune markers (IG G, immunoglobulin G4, and PD-L1); no proliferative activity, possess no specific immune function, and cannot be used to calculate the Combined Positive Score scale.
