Positive GPNMB Immunostaining Differentiates Renal Cell Carcinoma With Fibromyomatous Stroma Associated With TSC1/2/MTOR Alterations From Others

Abstract

Renal cell carcinoma with fibromyomatous stroma (RCCFMS) include ELOC/TCEB1-mutated renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and those with TSC1/2/MTOR alterations. Besides morphologic similarity, most of these tumors is known to be diffusely positive for carbonic anhydrase IX and cytokeratin 7 by immunohistochemistry. We previously showed strong and diffuse expression of GPNMB (glycoprotein nonmetastatic B) in translocation RCC and eosinophilic renal neoplasms with known TSC1/2/MTOR alterations. We retrospectively identified molecularly confirmed cases of TCEB1/ELOC-mutated RCC (7 tumors from 7 patients), and RCCFMS with alterations in TSC1/2/MTOR (6 tumors from 5 patients, 1 patient with tuberous sclerosis syndrome). In addition, we included 7 clear cell papillary renal cell tumors (CCPRCTs) and 8 clear cell RCC, as they can also present morphologic overlap with RCCFMS. Morphologically, RCCs with TSC1/2/MTOR alterations and those with TCEB1/ELOC mutations were indistinguishable and characterized by papillary, nested, or tubular architecture, with tumor cells with clear cytoplasm and low nuclear grade. By immunohistochemistry, cytokeratin 7 was positive in 5/7 (71%) of TCEB1/ELOC-mutated RCCs, 6/6 (100%) of RCCs with TSC1/2/mTOR alterations, and 7/7 (100%) of CCPRCTs (P=not significant). Carbonic anhydrase IX was positive in 7/7 TCEB1/ELOC-mutated RCCs, 6/6 (100%) of RCCs with TSC1/2/MTOR alterations, and 7/7 (100%) of CCPRCTs (P=NS). GPNMB was strongly and diffusely positive in all tumors with TSC1/2/MTOR alterations (6/6), while negative in all TCEB1/ELOC-mutated RCCs (0/6), or CCPRCTs (0/7) (P=0.002). Two of 8 clear cell RCC showed focal weak staining, while 6/8 were negative. In conclusion, the results support the use of GPNMB to distinguish RCCFMS with TSC1/2/MTOR alterations from others with similar morphology.