Korean J Urol.  2011 Feb;52(2):96-103.

Diagnostic Utility of Caveolin-1 and MOC-31 in Distinguishing Chromophobe Renal Cell Carcinoma from Renal Oncocytoma

• Lee HW
• Lee EH
• Lee CH
• Chang HK
• Rha SH

Abstract

PURPOSE
Renal tumors consist of heterogeneous groups that frequently show complex and overlapping morphology, thus making it difficult to make a correct diagnosis. One of the most problematic differential diagnoses is to distinguish chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (RCC) from oncocytoma. These should be distinguished by differences in their behavior and clinical outcome. Our study was performed to identify whether caveolin-1 and MOC-31 are useful immunohistochemical markers for differentiating chromophobe RCC from oncocytoma.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We selected 23 chromophobe RCCs, 8 oncocytomas, and 25 clear cell RCCs and performed immunohistochemical staining for caveolin-1 and MOC-31.
RESULTS
Caveolin-1 was positive in 20 (87%) of 23 chromophobe RCCs, 0 of 8 oncocytomas, and 21 (84%) of 25 clear cell RCCs. MOC-31 was positive in 22 (96%) of 23 chromophobe RCCs, 2 (25%) of 8 oncocytomas, and 14 (56%) of 25 clear cell RCCs. There was a statistically significant difference in the expression of caveolin-1 and MOC-31 between chromophobe RCC and oncocytoma (p<0.001). In addition, clear cell RCC was also significantly different from oncocytoma in the expression of caveolin-1 (p<0.001) and was significantly different from chromophobe RCC in the expression of MOC-31 (p<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Caveolin-1 and MOC-31 can be useful markers in the differential diagnosis of chromophobe RCC, oncocytoma, and clear cell RCC.

Keyword

Adenoma, oxyphilic; Caveolin 1; MOC-31 monoclonal antibody, human; Renal cell carcinoma

MeSH Terms

Adenoma, Oxyphilic
Antibodies, Monoclonal
Carcinoma, Renal Cell
Caveolin 1
Diagnosis, Differential
Kidney Neoplasms
Adenoma, Oxyphilic
Antibodies, Monoclonal
Carcinoma, Renal Cell
Caveolin 1
Kidney Neoplasms

Figure

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  FIG. 1 Expression of caveolin-1 and MOC-31 in normal kidney tissue. (A) Caveolin-1 is expressed in parietal epithelial cells of Bowman capsules, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells of blood vessels. (B) MOC-31 is expressed only in epithelial cells of distal tubules.

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  FIG. 2 Expression of caveolin-1 in chromophobe renal cell carcinoma and oncocytoma. (A) Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma is diffuse, moderate to strong positive for caveolin-1, showing granular and cytoplasmic staining with membranous condensation. (B) Oncocytoma is negative for caveolin-1.

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  FIG. 3 Expression of caveolin-1 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. (A) Clear cell type shows membranous staining of caveolin-1. (B) Granular cell type shows diffuse cytoplasmic staining with membranous condensation similar to chromophobe renal cell carcinoma.

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  FIG. 4 Expression of MOC-31 in chromophobe renal cell carcinoma and oncocytoma. (A) Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma shows diffuse, strong, and membranous staining for MOC-31. (B) Oncocytoma shows no staining for MOC-31.

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  FIG. 5 Expression of MOC-31 in oncocytoma with tubular differentiation. In a few cases of oncocytomas, MOC-31 is expressed in the tumor cells showing tubular differentiation but not solid or trabecular nests.

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