DNA ploidy study of resected hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic liver.
OBJECTIVE
Results of several studies on DNA ploidy as a prognostic indicator in hepatocellular carcinoma are contradictory. The present study analysed the correlations between DNA ploidy of resected hepatocellular carcinoma and tumour characteristics, tumour recurrence, risk factors and survival.


METHODS
Tumoural DNA ploidy of hepatocellular carcinomas from 37 patients with cirrhosis who underwent curative tumour resection was studied by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
A diploid pattern was found in 23 hepatocellular carcinomas (62.2%) and an aneuploid pattern in 14 (37.8%). The tumour recurrence rate did not differ statistically between diploid (69.6%) and aneuploid (50%) hepatocellular carcinomas. The only prognostic variable with significant difference in DNA pattern was the histologic tumour type; the majority of non-trabecular tumours were aneuploid while most trabecular hepatocellular carcinomas had a diploid DNA pattern. Actuarial survival at 1, 2, 3 and 4 years of patients with diploid and aneuploid tumours was 69.6%, 40.6%, 16.2% and 0%, and 69.3%, 59.4%, 49.5% and 32.9%, respectively (log rank p = 0.1927).


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that DNA ploidy has no prognostic value in hepatocellular carcinoma.
Balsells
J
J
Department of Surgery, Hospital General Universitari Vall d'Hebron Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Spain.
Caragol
I
I
Allende
E
E
Diaz
I
I
Charco
R
R
Lazaro
J L
JL
Murio
E
E
Margarit
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000601:surgery; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011003:Ploidies; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm