An immunohistological study of giant‐cell tumour of bone: Evidence for an osteoclast origin of the giant cells

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Abstract
Using a panel of monoclonal antibodies against a variety of lymphoid and non‐lymphoid antigens the immuno‐histological staining pattern of giant cells from a case of giant‐cell tumour of bone has been compared with that of osteoclasts from the developing ends of fetal long bones. Only EBM‐11, an antibody reacting with a wide spectrum of macrophages, stained both osteoclasts and giant cells; stromal cells and osteoblasts did not react. This indicates that osteoclasts and giant cells are phenotypically and presumably functionally similar. It is argued that the osteoclasts and the tumour‐derived giant cells in bone are derived from a similar mononuclear precursor.