Time Required for Effective Action of Phenol against Giant Cell Tumour Cells

• Main Authors: Manasseh Nithyananth, Anne Jennifer Priscilla, PVJRC Boopalan, VTK Titus, Vernon N Lee
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2014-04-01
• Series: Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1177/230949901402200126

Purpose. To evaluate the time required for effective action of phenol against the giant cell tumour (GCT) cells. Methods. Fresh GCT cells were harvested from 9 patients with primary GCT of the distal femur (n=4), proximal tibia (n=4), and proximal humerus (n=1), with the Campanacci tumour grades 3 (n=6), 2 (n=2), and 1 (n=1). Specimens were immersed in 80 % phenol for one, 3, 6, and 10 minutes, and were assessed by a single pathologist for irreversible cell death and the depth of phenol penetration. Results. Phenol caused consistent GCT cell death in 6 of the 9 specimens after 3 minutes and in all 9 specimens after 6 minutes, compared to none in controls (p<0.0001). The mean depths of phenol penetration were 15 (range, 11–20) and 19 (range, 15–25) cell thickness after 6 and 10 minutes, respectively (p<0.0001). Conclusion. GCT cells immersed in 80% phenol for 6 minutes resulted in consistent cell death.