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DNA ploidy study of resected hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic liver
J Balsells1, I Caragol, E Allende
1Department of Surgery, Hospital General Universitari Vall d'Hebron Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Spain.
Background/Aims:
Results of several studies on DNA ploidy as a prognostic indicator in hepatocellular carcinoma are contradictory. The present study analysed the correlations between DNA ploidy of resected hepatocellular carcinoma and tumour characteristics, tumour recurrence, risk factors and survival.
Methods:
Tumoural DNA ploidy of hepatocellular carcinomas from 37 patients with cirrhosis who underwent curative tumour resection was studied by flow cytometry.
Results:
A diploid pattern was found in 23 hepatocellular carcinomas (62.2%) and an aneuploid pattern in 14 (37.8%). The tumour recurrence rate did not differ statistically between diploid (69.6%) and aneuploid (50%) hepatocellular carcinomas. The only prognostic variable with significant difference in DNA pattern was the histologic tumour type; the majority of non-trabecular tumours were aneuploid while most trabecular hepatocellular carcinomas had a diploid DNA pattern. Actuarial survival at 1, 2, 3 and 4 years of patients with diploid and aneuploid tumours was 69.6%, 40.6%, 16.2% and 0%, and 69.3%, 59.4%, 49.5% and 32.9%, respectively (log rank p = 0.1927).
Conclusion:
These results indicate that DNA ploidy has no prognostic value in hepatocellular carcinoma.