Glucocorticoids, calcitonin, and osteocalcin cannot differentiate between aggressive and nonaggressive central giant cell lesions of the jaws

Abstract

To evaluate the expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR), calcitonin receptor (CTR), and osteocalcin (OC) in aggressive and nonaggressive central giant cell lesions (CGCLs). The numbers of mitotic and multinucleated giant cells were also evaluated. Thirty-one cases of CGCL were submitted for immunohistochemistry. Mitotic figures and multinucleated giant cells were assessed through histochemical analyses. Positive staining for GR, CTR, and OC was observed in all cases studied. There were no differences between CGCL variants with regard to the expression of GR, CTR, or OC. The aggressive group showed a higher number of multinucleated giant cells compared with the nonaggressive group (P < .05). Nonaggressive and aggressive CGCLs cannot be distinguished by OC, CTR, or GR expression, although the number of multinucleated giant cells may help differentiate between CGCL types.