Reactivity of CK 7 across the spectrum of renal cell carcinomas with clear cells

Current available data on cytokeratin 7 immunostaining pattern in the clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) spectrum is conflicting. The aim of this study was to assess CK7 immunoreactivity within the spectrum of clear cell renal neoplasms, including clear cell RCC, multicystic renal neoplasm of low malignant potential, and clear cell papillary RCC-like tumors.

We analyzed two clones of CK7 and two tumor blocks for a total of 75 cases divided into five distinct groups: 1) low grade clear cell RCC, 2) high grade clear cell RCC, 3) multicystic renal neoplasm of low malignant potential, 4) clear cell RCC with cystic changes and 5) clear cell papillary RCC-like tumors. We found the highest CK7 reactivity in low grade clear cell RCC, multicystic renal neoplasm and clear cell papillary RCC-like groups, ranging from 60-93%.

Our findings show that CK7 immunoreactivity in clear cell RCC is variable and the extent of staining depends on the grade and architectural growth patterns of the tumors. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Histopathology. 2018 Nov 16 [Epub ahead of print]

Manuel Lora Gonzalez, Reza Alaghehbandan, Kristyna Pivovarcikova, Kvetoslava Michalova, Joanna Rogala, Petr Martinek, Maria Pane Foix, Enric Condom Mundo, Eva Comperat, Monika Ulamec, Milan Hora, Michal Michal, Ondrej Hes

Department of Pathology, University of Kansas, Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA., Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Royal Columbian Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada., Department of Pathology, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine in Plzeň, Pilsen, Czech Republic., Department of Pathology, University Hospital Wroclaw, Poland., Department of Pathology, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institut (IDIBELL), Bellvitge University Hospital, University of Barcelona School of Medicine, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain., Department of Pathology, Hospital Tenon, Sorbonne University, Paris, France., Ljudevit Jurak" Pathology Department, Clinical Hospital Center "Sestre milosrdnice", Pathology Department, Medical University, Medical Faculty Zagreb, Croatia., Department of Urology, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine in Plzeň, Pilsen, Czech Republic.