INVOLVEMENT OF ARTERIAL BLOOD-SUPPLY IN THE PROLIFERATION OF HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA

The aim of this study was to clarify whether arterial blood supply bq tumor vessels was involved in the proliferation of hepatocellular carc inoma. Proliferative activity was evaluated by the tumor volume doubli ng time determined on ultrasonography and the number of silver-stainin g nucleolar organizer regions in biopsy specimen. The degree of arteri al blood supply to the tumor was evaluated based on the degree of cont rast enhancement during the early phase on incremental dynamic compute d tomography. The tumor volume doubling time negatively correlated wit h the number of silver-staining nucleolar organizer regions. The numbe r of silver-staining nucleolar organizer regions in hepatocellular car cinoma cells was significantly increased with the increase of arterial blood supply. In well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinomas? the n umber of silver-staining nucleolar organizer regions in the group show ing arterial blood supply on computed tomography was significantly inc reased compared with that in the group without arterial blood supply t o the tumor. These findings suggest that the arterial blood supply is involved in the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma. (C) 1997 El sevier Science Ireland Ltd.