acid-phosphatase and Fibrous-Dysplasia-of-Bone

In osteoclastic giant cells of six different tumors of bones and joints (fibrous dysplasia, proliferating giant cell tumor, malignant giant cell tumor, osteosarcoma after chemotherapy, malignant synovioma and Ewing's sarcoma) activities of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, NADH-tetrazolium-oxidoreductase and, in three of them, of non-specific esterase are determined by enzyme histochemical methods. Quantitative microphotometry makes it possible to determine relative enzyme activities in the cut sections of giant cells of different sizes. Giant cells of the various tumors reveal similar trends: With an increase in cell size, mean extinctions of NADH-tetrazolium-oxidoreductase and non-specific esterase decrease. Mean extinctions of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase increase in cells of medium size, whereas the large cells reveal in part low activities. An additional ultrastructural examination of the giant cells in the proliferating giant cell tumor as well as in the osteosarcoma shows morphological signs of degeneration in the large cells. Electron probe microanalysis of the proliferating giant cell tumor exhibits evidence of phagocytosis of Ca and/or Fe containing particles. The similar size dependent reaction pattern of enzymes in osteoclastic giant cells of different tumors favors the concept of a common histogenesis, i.e. a host reaction.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Bone Neoplasms; Carboxylesterase; Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases; Fibrous Dysplasia of Bone; Giant Cell Tumors; Humans; NADH Tetrazolium Reductase; Osteoclasts; Osteosarcoma; Sarcoma, Ewing; Sarcoma, Synovial

In recent years, histochemistry and electron microscopy have been applied more and more to the investigation of bone tumors. The contributions and limitations of these methods in differential diagnosis are discussed. The levels of glycosaminoglycans in cartilaginous tumors display distinct differences between slow- and fast-growing types. All cartilaginous tumors are poor in phosphatase activity. Demonstration of these enzymes at acid and alkaline pH in bone-forming conditions reveals differences between benign and malignant tumors. Osteosarcomas display a rich activity of both phosphatases in bone-forming and in bone-free regions. Acid phosphatase may play a rôle in the breakdown of the host tissue infiltrated by the tumor. Electron microscopy of bone tumors has brought out some interesting findings. In fibrous dysplasia a particular kind of very fine fibrillar structures was observed besides the regular collagen fibrils. This may indicate retardation of collagen maturation. Cell organelles in benign and malignant bone tumors usually differ quantitatively. They resemble active fibroblasts. In bone- and in cartilage-forming tumors we observed large quantities of microfilaments in the cytoplasm. Nuclear indentations and invaginations probably indicate increased nuclear activity. The intense acid phosphatase activity demonstrated histochemically seems inconsistent with the low number of lysosomes in the cytoplasm of osteosarcoma cells, but other organelles (Golgi apparatus and vesicles) may also contain the enzyme. Virus-like particles have not been observed in human osteosarcomas up to now. Other authors have observed a correlation between the number of cell organelles and the grade of differentiation, but this was not detected in our sample of benign and malignant cartilaginous tumors. Histochemistry and electron microscopy of bone tumors are still in the early stage of material gathering. Some histochemical findings, however, can already be used as diagnostic tools.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Alkaline Phosphatase; Bone Neoplasms; Cartilage Diseases; Cell Nucleus; Chondrosarcoma; Collagen; Cytoplasm; Cytoskeleton; Fibrous Dysplasia of Bone; Humans; Osteosarcoma

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Adolescent; Adult; Bone Neoplasms; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Fibrosarcoma; Fibrous Dysplasia of Bone; Giant Cell Tumors; Humans; Infant; Isoenzymes; Male; Middle Aged; Osteosarcoma; Sarcoma, Ewing; Soft Tissue Neoplasms

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Adolescent; Adult; Alkaline Phosphatase; Bone Neoplasms; Child; Child, Preschool; Esterases; Female; Femoral Neoplasms; Fibroma; Fibrosarcoma; Fibrous Dysplasia of Bone; Glucuronidase; Humans; Humerus; Hydrolases; Infant, Newborn; Leucyl Aminopeptidase; Male; Mandibular Neoplasms; Middle Aged; Osteosarcoma; Tibia

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Adolescent; Alkaline Phosphatase; Bone Neoplasms; Carboxylesterase; Child; Chondroblastoma; Chondroma; Chondrosarcoma; Coloring Agents; Esterases; Fibroma; Fibrosarcoma; Fibrous Dysplasia of Bone; Geriatrics; Giant Cell Tumors; Glucuronidase; Histocytochemistry; Histological Techniques; Humans; Osteosarcoma; Pathology; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; Sarcoma, Synovial; Staining and Labeling

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Adenoma; Alkaline Phosphatase; Ameloblastoma; Arthritis; Bone Cysts; Bone Neoplasms; Chondrosarcoma; Fibroma; Fibrous Dysplasia of Bone; Geriatrics; Giant Cell Tumors; Humans; Neoplasm Metastasis; Osteitis Fibrosa Cystica; Osteoma; Osteosarcoma; Prognosis; Radiography; Sarcoma, Ewing; Tuberculosis; Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular