DNA ploidy analysis of hepatic preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions in woodchucks experimentally infected with woodchuck hepatitis virus.
We analyzed the DNA ploidy and the nuclear size of hepatocytes within hepatocellular carcinoma, putative preneoplastic (clear cell and basophilic foci) and adjacent non-neoplastic liver in 30 woodchucks neonatally infected with the woodchuck hepatitis virus. In livers from control woodchucks, in clear cell foci and in most chronic portal hepatitis, the hepatocytes were diploid, with less than 10% tetraploid cells. Aneuploid peaks were found in 50% of the livers with chronic active hepatitis, in 63% of basophilic foci and in 90% of hepatocellular carcinoma. Within the same tumor, aneuploid peaks with different DNA indices were observed frequently, indicating heterogeneity of tumor. S-phase was always elevated, indicating an increased rate of proliferation. Aneuploid cells had nuclei that were larger than those of control liver cells. In some basophilic foci and in some livers with chronic active hepatitis, abnormal DNA was demonstrated before the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, suggesting that these may be populations of hepatocytes at risk of neoplastic transformation.
Immunopathology Laboratory, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York 10468.
L J
LJ
Mi
J
J
Patil
W E
WE
Hornbuckle
P J
PJ
Cote
J L
JL
Gerin
B C
BC
Tennant
F
F
Paronetto
D000782:Aneuploidy; D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D004171:Diploidy; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D017919:Hepatitis B Virus, Woodchuck; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008392:Marmota; D011003:Ploidies; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm