RANK and RANKL expression in giant-cell tumour of bone.

摘要

We congratulate Thomas and colleagues on their interesting and important paper.1 In their article, the authors mention that RANK and RANKL are expressed by giant-cell tumour of bone (GCTs). In relation to this aspect they refer to their own unpublished communication delivered at a meeting in 2006 (12th Annual Connective Tissue Oncology Society Meeting; Nov 2-4, Venice, Italy). However, the detection of RANKL and RANK mRNA in GCTs using RT-PCR and qin-situ hybridisation had already been reported.23 RANKL has also been detected by immunofluorescence in cultured cells derived from GCTs.4 Finally, our group provided the first immunohistochemical evidence that RANK and RANKL are expressed in these tumours at the protein level, with RANK being expressed by osteoclast-like cells, and RANKL by the mononuclear cells that form the mesenchymal component of GCTs.