title: DNA clonal heterogeneity of hepatocellular carcinoma demonstrated by Feulgen-DNA analysis.
abstract: To demonstrate DNA clonal heterogeneity of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC), the DNA histographic pattern of both primary HCCs and their recurrent or metastatic lesions were studied among 36 patients (33 men and 3 women). Thirty-six paired aspirations or imprints taken from primary, recurrent or metastatic lesions were stained, using the modified Feulgen method, and the DNA content was measured with a scanning microdensitometer at a wavelength of 550 nm. Paired aspirations or imprints taken from different parts of the same HCC were examined in 17 cases; the DNA distribution patterns were similar in 15 (88%) and differed in only two (12%). A similar DNA histogram was also shown among different tumors in 10 (71%) of 14 patients with multiple HCCs, with a DNA ploidy discrepancy in only four (29%). Two of two subcutaneous metastases and two of three recurrent tumors showed DNA distribution patterns similar to those in their primary HCCs. In summary, a DNA clonal heterogeneity of HCC was found in 19% (7/36). In contrast, the similar DNA histographic patterns found in most instances among different parts of the HCC and between the primary and recurrent or metastatic lesions suggest that HCC may derive from a single cell clone in the majority of cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Republic of China.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Sheu
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000032:analysis*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007620:Karyometry; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000032:analysis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000032:analysis; D011003:Ploidies
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm