Cytochemical and ultrastructural changes in the osteoclast-like giant cells of giant cell tumor of bone following bisphosphonate administration

Giant cell tumor of bone (GCT) is a local aggressive neoplasm of bone characterized by expansive osteolytic lesions at the epiphysis of long bones. Bisphosphonates have been used to prevent bone resorption in secondary osteolytic tumors because of their strong anti-osteoclastic action. The authors studied the apoptosis and ultrastructural changes induced in osteoclast-like giant cells of GCT, following treatment with the aminobisphosphonate pamidronate in 16 patients with GCT of bone. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to identify ultrastructural changes, indicative of apoptosis, in the cytoplasm and the nucleus of the giant cells. Significant changes were observed in tumor samples from all 16 patients. In the cytoplasm these changes were characterized by abundant large tubular vesicles containing a central electrodense core scattered through the cytoplasm. In addition, mitochondria in the sections from pamidronate-treated patients appeared to be edematous when compared with sections from untreated patients. Nuclear changes in the giants cells were characterized by the formation of dense chromatin material scattered throughout the nucleus. The TUNEL labeling assay indicated that the mean pretreatment apoptotic index of 7.8% increased to 53% following pamidronate treatment. This was statistically significant ( p <.001) and correlated well with the ultrastructural changes noted on TEM. The formation of abundant tubular vesicles in giant cells following bisphosphonate treatment may reflect disturbed vesicular trafficking and may affect the bone resorbing activity of giant cells.