Undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclastic giant cells of the pancreas: Clinicopathologic analysis of 38 cases highlights a more protracted clinical course than currently appreciated Journal Article


Authors: Muraki, T.; Reid, M. D.; Basturk, O.; Jang, K. T.; Bedolla, G.; Bagci, P.; Mittal, P.; Memis, B.; Katabi, N.; Bandyopadhyay, S.; Sarmiento, J. M.; Krasinskas, A.; Klimstra, D. S.; Adsay, V.
Article Title: Undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclastic giant cells of the pancreas: Clinicopathologic analysis of 38 cases highlights a more protracted clinical course than currently appreciated
Abstract: Undifferentiated carcinomas with osteoclastic giant cells of the pancreas (OGC) are rare tumors. The current impression in the literature is that they are highly aggressive tumors similar in prognosis to ductal adenocarcinomas. In this study, the clinicopathologic characteristics of 38 resected OGCs were investigated and contrasted with 725 resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas without osteoclastic cells (PDCs). The frequency among systematically reviewed pancreatic cancers was 1.4%. OGCs showed a slight female predominance (62.9%, vs. 51.4% in PDCs). The mean age was 57.9 years (vs. 65.0). The mean size of invasive cancer was 5.3 cm (vs. 3.2). They were characterized by nodular, pushing-border growth, and 8 arose in tumoral intraepithelial neoplasms (4 in mucinous cystic neoplasms, 4 in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms type lesions), and 23 (61%) also showed prominent intraductal/intracystic growth. Twenty-nine (76%) had an invasive ductal/tubular adenocarcinoma component. Osteoid was seen in 12. Despite their larger size, perineural invasion and nodal metastasis were uncommon (31.6% and 22.6%, vs. 85.5% and 64.0%, respectively). Immunohistochemistry performed on 24 cases revealed that osteoclastic cells expressed the histiocytic marker CD68, and background spindle cells and pleomorphic/giant carcinoma cells often showed p53 and often lacked cytokeratin. Survival of OGCs was significantly better than that of PDCs (5 yr, 59.1% vs. 15.7%, respectively, P=0.0009). In conclusion, pancreatic OGCs present with larger tumor size and in slightly younger patients than PDC, 21% arise in mucinous cystic neoplasms/intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, and 61% show intraductal/intracystic polypoid growth. OGCs have a significantly better prognosis than is currently believed in the literature. Copyright © 2016 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
Keywords: pancreas; sarcomatoid carcinoma; osteoclast; intraductal; undifferentiated
Journal Title: American Journal of Surgical Pathology
Volume: 40
Issue: 9
ISSN: 0147-5185
Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins  
Date Published: 2016-09-01
Start Page: 1203
End Page: 1216
Language: English
DOI: 10.1097/pas.0000000000000689
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC4987218
PUBMED: 27508975
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 3 October 2016 -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Olca Basturk
    352 Basturk
  2. Nora Katabi
    303 Katabi
  3. David S Klimstra
    978 Klimstra