DNA-PLOIDY STUDY OF RESECTED HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA IN CIRRHOTIC LIVER

Background/Aims: Results of several studies on DNA ploidy as a prognos tic indicator in hepatocellular carcinoma are contradictory. The prese nt study analysed the correlations between DNA ploidy of resected hepa tocellular carcinoma and tumour characteristics, tumour recurrence, ri sk factors and survival. Methods: Tumoural DNA ploidy of hepatocellula r carcinomas from 37 patients with cirrhosis who underwent curative tu mour resection was studied by flow cytometry. Results: A diploid patte rn was found in 23 hepatocellular carcinomas (62.2%) and an aneuploid pattern in 14 (37.8%), The tumour recurrence rate did not differ stati stically between diploid (69.6%) and aneuploid (50%) hepatocellular ca rcinomas, The only prognostic variable with significant difference in DNA pattern was the histologic tumour type; the majority of non-trabec ular tumours were aneuploid while most trabecular hepatocellular carci nomas had a diploid DNA pattern, Actuarial survival at 1, 2, 3 and 4 y ears 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 ran k p=0.1927), Conclusion: These results indicate that DNA ploidy has no prognostic value in hepatocellular carcinoma.