OBJECTIVETo establish a modified rat model of liver cancer with concurrent cirrhosis for the study of carcinogenesis characteristics and drug intervention of liver cancer.

METHODSFifty male Wistar rats weighing 100-120 g were randomly divided into normal control group (20 rats) and model group (30 rats). In the model group, the rats were subjected to intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg DEN N-diethylnitrosamine (DEN) twice a week for 4 consecutive weeks, followed then by weekly injections for another 10 weeks. The control rats received injections of 0.1 ml saline in the same manner. At 2, 4, 8, 12, 14, and 18 weeks, 3 rats from each group were sacrificed for assessing tumor formation and liver cirrhosis.

RESULTSLiver cancer with concurrent cirrhosis was induced successfully after 14 weeks of DEN injections. At the 14th week, 3 out of the 5 rats were found to have cirrhosis and LC, and at the 18th week, all the 3 rats examined had cirrhosis and liver cancer. The total carcinogenesis rate in the rats was 75% at 18 weeks with an overall mortality of 33%.

CONCLUSIONThis approach to establishing rat models of liver cancer with concurrent cirrhosis requires simple operation, shortens the time of carcinogenesis, and ensures a high success rate of carcinogenesis and a low mortality rate. The carcinogenesis characteristics in this model are similar to those in human.

Animals ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; complications ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; etiology ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

The lymphatic system is part of the circulatory system and plays a key role in normal vascular function. Its failure plays a crucial role in the development and maintenance of various diseases including liver diseases. Lymphangiogenesis (the growth of lymphatic vessels) and changes in the properties of lymphatic vessels are associated with pathogenesis of tumor metastases, ascites formation, liver fibrosis/cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Despite its significant role in liver diseases and its importance as a potential therapeutic target for those diseases, the lymphatic vascular system of the liver is poorly understood. Therefore, how the lymphatic vascular system in general and lymphangiogenesis in particular are mechanistically related to the pathogenesis and maintenance of liver diseases are largely unknown. This article summarizes: 1) the lymphatic vascular system; 2) its role in liver tumors, liver fibrosis/cirrhosis and portal hypertension; and 3) its role in ascites formation.
Ascites/*etiology ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal/complications/pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis/complications/pathology ; Liver Diseases/complications/*pathology ; Liver Neoplasms/complications/pathology ; Lymphangiogenesis ; Lymphatic Vessels/metabolism/physiopathology

Combined hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CC) is sometimes found in resected livers, however, cases with double cancer of HCC and CC are very rare. As well, the rarity of CC arising in von Meyenburg complexes (VMCs) is appreciated. We report the case of a 74-year-old man found to have intrahepatic double cancer composed of well-differentiated HCC and CC which exhibited a histologic progression from VMCs to adenomatous lesions and CC. To our knowledge, this is the first case report published in the literature of a double HCC and CC associated with multiple VMCs. The pathogenesis and previous associated reports of these lesions are discussed.
Aged ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic/abnormalities* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/etiology ; Case Report ; Cholangiocarcinoma/pathology* ; Cholangiocarcinoma/etiology ; HumanLiver Neoplasms/pathology* ; Liver Neoplasms/etiology ; Male ; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary/pathology* ; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary/etiology

Primary adenosquamous carcinoma of the liver is a very rare type of cholangiocarcinoma and is defined as a cancer containing both squamous and adenomatous components in the same lesion. Recently, we experienced a primary adenosquamous carcinoma of the liver presented as liver abscess. A 63-year-old man was presented with a 4-day history of fever and chill. The radiologic study showed a 4 cm-sized, central hypoattenuated mass with peripheral rim enhancement in the left lobe of the liver. Ultrasonography-guided aspiration and biopsy suggested an adenocarcinoma with abscess in the liver. At laparotomy, the tumor occupied the left lobe of the liver and invaded the right diaphragm. An extended left lobectomy and a partial excision of the involved diaphragm were done. Grossly, the tumor was 6x5x5 cm in size and had an eccentric necrosis. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma with a transitional area.
Carcinoma, Adenosquamous/*complications/pathology/surgery ; Case Report ; Human ; Liver Abscess/*etiology ; Liver Neoplasms/*complications/pathology/surgery ; Male ; Middle Age

No abstract available.
Bile Duct Neoplasms/complications/*diagnosis/pathology ; *Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic/pathology ; Cholangiocarcinoma/complications/*diagnosis/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lithiasis/*etiology/pathology/surgery ; Liver Diseases/*etiology/pathology/surgery ; Middle Aged

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; etiology ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Aged ; Bile Duct Neoplasms/etiology/*pathology ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Cholangiocarcinoma/etiology/*pathology ; Hamartoma/complications/pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver/pathology/surgery ; Male ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo discuss the safety line to avoid the post-hepatectomy hepatic insufficiency by combining indocyanine green test by pulse dye-densitometry (PDD-ICG) and standard remnant liver volume (SRLV).

METHODSSeventy-five hepatic cancer patients undergone hepatectomy from March 2007 to February 2008 were included. According to the liver function decompensatory grades after operation, the relationship between ICG retention rate at 15 min (ICGR15) and standard remnant liver volume by linear regression were analyzed.

RESULTSThere were 60 cases with slight hepatic insufficiency, 12 cases with moderate hepatic insufficiency, and 3 cases with severe hepatic insufficiency. There were no difference in age [(50 +/- 13) years old and (53 +/- 9) years old], prothrombin time [(13.6 +/- 1.0) s and (13.5 +/- 1.0) s], international normalized ratio (1.09 +/- 0.10 and 1.06 +/- 0.10) between slight hepatic insufficiency group and moderate and severe hepatic insufficiency group (P > 0.05). And there were difference in K value (0.20 +/- 0.04 and 0.17 +/- 0.03), ICGR15 (6 +/- 4 and 9 +/- 4), SRLV [(545 +/- 93) ml and (398 +/- 82) ml] between two groups (P < 0.05). Compared ICG test and standard remnant liver volume of the patients with moderate hepatic insufficiency after operation, the liner relationship was found (R = 0.640, P = 0.025), and the regression equation was: standard remnant liver volume (ml/m(2)) = 1594.6 x ICGR15 + 265.

CONCLUSIONSPDD-ICG test and standard remnant liver volume are effective to estimate hepatic function reserve of patient undergone hepatectomy.

Adult ; Female ; Hepatectomy ; methods ; Hepatic Insufficiency ; etiology ; Humans ; Indocyanine Green ; pharmacokinetics ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The interaction of HCV with its human host is complex and multilayered; stemming in part from the fact that HCV is a RNA virus with no ability to integrate in the host's genome. Direct and indirect mechanisms of HCV-induced HCC include activation of multiple host pathways such as liver fibrogenic pathways, cellular and survival pathways, interaction with the immune and metabolic systems. Host factors also play a major role in HCV-induced HCC as evidenced by genomic studies identifying polymorphisms in immune, metabolic, and growth signaling systems associated with increased risk of HCC. Despite highly effective direct-acting antiviral agents, the morbidity and incidence of liver-related complications of HCV, including HCC, is likely to persist in the near future. Clinical markers to selectively identify HCV subjects at higher risk of developing HCC have been reported however they require further validation, especially in subjects who have experienced sustained virological response. Molecular biomarkers allowing further refinement of HCC risk are starting to be implemented in clinical platforms, allowing objective stratification of risk and leading to individualized therapy and surveillance for HCV individuals. Another role for molecular biomarker-based stratification could be enrichment of HCC chemoprevention clinical trials leading to smaller sample size, shorter trial duration, and reduced costs.
Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics/metabolism ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*etiology ; Hepacivirus/genetics/*pathogenicity ; Hepatitis C/complications/pathology/virology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/*etiology ; Risk

Bile Duct Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; complications ; pathology ; surgery ; Cholestasis, Intrahepatic ; etiology ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; complications ; pathology ; surgery ; Neoplasm Invasiveness