[Factors affecting tumorigenicity in liver cancer xenografts]

Objective: To establish a tumor tissue xenograft (PDX) model derived from liver cancer patients and explore the factors affecting tumorigenicity of liver cancer in the PDX model. Methods: The hepatocellular carcinoma tissues were inoculated subcutaneously in the axilla of NPG mice using the tissue block method to establish a PDX model. The demographic characteristics and related clinical examination data of 60 hepatocellular carcinoma patients were collected using the electronic medical record system and comprehensive medical information system of Beijing You'an Hospital, affiliated to Capital Medical University. The hepatocellular carcinoma samples of 24 cases were sequenced using the Oak Wing TM-808 gene detection reagent and high-throughput sequencing technology. SPSS 17.0 statistical software was used for statistical analysis, and the count data were analyzed using the χ² test. Results: The tumorigenicity rate of PDX samples from 60 patients with liver cancer was 35% (21/60). The average tumorigenic duration in the PDX-P0 generation was 110.71±50.45 days. There were statistically significant differences (P<0.05) corresponding to Edmondson grade (χ²=5.910, P=0.015) and Ki67 expression (χ²=4.615, P=0.032) among PDX with tumorigenicity and without tumorigenicity between the liver cancer samples. There was no statistically significant difference in gene mutation (TOP25) among PDX with tumorigenicity and without tumorigenicity between liver cancer samples. Conclusion: The factors affecting the tumorigenicity of liver cancer in PDX models are complex. The high pathological grade and strong Ki67 expression may be the key factors for the completion of liver cancer in PDX models.