[Clinical studies on pathobiological characteristics of early hepatocellular carcinoma]

On the basis of the study of animal hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) model, the DNA content was measured with flow cytometry and image analyzer in 62 cases of human HCC, in which 30 HCCs were smaller than 3 cm in diameter, and the pathobiological behaviors of 79 cases of small HCC were observed. The results showed that most of less than 3 cm HCCs had DNA diploid (2C) level and most of greater than 3 cm HCCs had DNA aneuploid (AN) level (P less than 0.05). Along with the increase of tumor size, the incidences of varied invasions were raised, but the post operative survival rate was relatively lowered. We conclude that in human HCC, the DNA content changes from 2C to AN when HCC grows to about 3 cm in size with marked change of relative biological characteristics. This period is of clinical importance in increasing the postoperative survival rate of HCC patients. The mechanism and clinical significance of early appearance of malignant. behaviors in some small HCCs are also discussed.