[A study on the DNA histogram pattern of hepatocellular carcinoma--application of a high resolution analytical system...

In 25 cases of primary hepatocellular carcinomas, the relationships between clinical, pathological features and DNA histogram patterns were investigated. Nuclear DNA histogram that represents cell cycle and indicates biological malignancy of carcinoma was analyzed by rapid image sensor analytical system scanning enable to measure the density, area and perimeter of nuclei even on thin tissue sections. Histograms of over 65 years old patients showed low ploidy pattern rather than that of less than 65 patients whose AFP values are over 1000 ng/ml showed statistically higher ploidy pattern compared to those of under 10 ng/ml. No significant relations were verified between pathological findings and DNA histogram patterns. But patients who died within 18 months after hepatectomy showed broad and high ploidy histogram patterns compared to patients who lived over 18 months. These results suggested that DNA histogram analysis is useful for evaluate the biological malignancy of primary hepatocellular carcinoma.