[Nutritional treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma]

We investigated the relationship between the growth of HCC and nutrition, especially amino acids, and reconsidered the clinical application of amino acid imbalance. At first, rat chemical hepato-carcinogenesis was performed to investigate whether Aminoleban EN stimulates or restrains the occurrence of HCC. 2-Acetyl-amino-fluorene containing diet was administered intermittently according to Epstein's method. Rats were divided into two groups; group 1 was fed on Aminoleban EN containing diet and group 2 on a basal diet. There was no significant difference between the survival rate in the two groups. The average body weight of group 1 was significantly higher than that of group 2. The rats were sacrificed at the 25th week. All 11 rats of group 1 had no liver tumor, but 2 of 17 rats of group 2 had liver tumors, including a HCC and cholangiocellular carcinoma. The incidence of the liver tumor was significantly different between the two groups. Aminoleban EN could inhibit rat liver carcinogenesis, so it is considered to be a desirable nutritional product for LC patients from the stand point of cancer prevention. Secondly, the composition of amino acid was studied on HCC and surrounding tissue. There was no significant difference of Val, Leu, Leu, Phe, Tyr, Met and Fischer ratio between HCC and surrounding tissue.