肝门部胆管癌的外科治疗(附22例报告)

２２例病人中，肝门周围胆管切除，左右肝管残端与空肠ＲｏｕｘＹ吻合１５例；肝门周围胆管及左半肝切除，右肝管残端与空肠吻合３例；肝门周围胆管及左半肝、左尾叶切除，右肝二、三级肝管与空肠吻合２例；右肝门套入近端空肠２例。术后生存不满一年５例，２年±６月１１例，３年５例，５年以上１例。推崇重视Ｂ超检查，推崇首先于胰头上缘切断胆总管，再向上解剖的手术顺序。肝断面上相邻肝胆管应施行拼接处理。若肝管数目多且口径小时，胆管内置支撑管，行肝门套入肠腔的吻合，更为安全可靠。

An Analysis of Prospective Outcome of Re-resection for Recurrent Live Cancer and Extrahepatic Metastases,a Follow-up of 267\Cass

Objective To evaluate the prospective outcome and summarize experience in re-resection for recurrent liver cancer and extrahepatic metastases. Methods The clinical data of 267 patients with recurrent primary liver cancer (PLC) after re-resection from January 1960 to July 2000 were retrospectively analyzed. Re-hepatectomy was performed on 205 cases, resection of extrahepatic metastases on 51 cases and combined resection of recurrent liver cancer and extrahepatic metastases on 11 cases. The clinico-pathologic features, operation type and survival were compared. Results The types of liver re-resection included left lateral lobectomy in 11.2% of patients, hemihepatetomy and extended hemi-hepatectomy in 4.4%, local radical resection in 68.3%, other subsegmentectomy in 17.1%. The peak recurrence rate (64.4%) occurred at 1–2 years. The overall 1-, 3, 5- and 10-year survival rates after second resection were 81.0%, 40.3%, 19.4% and 9.0% respectively, while they were 77.5%, 29.8%, 13.2% and 6.61% respectively after the third resection. The median survival time was 44 months. The re-resection with extrahepatic metastases also provided the possibility of longer survival. Conclusion The results suggest that subsegmentectomy and local excision is appropriate for the hepatic repeat resection. The peak recurrence may be correlated with portal thrombus and operative factor. The re-resection can be indicated not only in intrahepatic recurrent metastases but also in extrahepatic metastases in selected patients. Re-resection has become the treatment of choice for recurrence of PLC, as neither chemotherapy nor other nonsurgical therapies can achieve such favorable results. Key words prospective outcome - re-resection - primary liver cancer - recurrence - extrahepatic metastases

Pathological Study of Excised Specimens from Resectable Large Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization

Objective: To investigate pathological changes in surgically excised specimens from resectable large hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE ) and their signi?cance. Methods: From January 2002 to January 2003, 83 patients with resectable large HCC were randomized into two groups: group A, 36 patients who underwent preoperative TACE, and group B, 47 patients who underwent one-stage operation without TACE. Hepatectomy was performed in 31 patients of group A (two-stage operation group) and 47 patients of group B (one-stage operation group). The remaining 5 patients in group A were not operable. The diagnosis of HCC was pathologically con?rmed in all 78 patients after hepatectomy. Pathological changes of the excised specimens between the two groups were compared, including main tumors, capsular containment, daughter nodules, tumor thrombi and liver cirrhosis. Results: There were no signi?cant di?erences in the incidence of daughter nodules , portal vein tumor thrombi (PVTT) and extrahepatic metastasis between the two groups, but the area of main tumor necrosis was more extensive and the rate of encapsulation was higher in two-stage operation group than those in one-stage operation group. No signi?cant shrinkage in the average tumor size was seen in two- stage operation group, where daughter nodules and PVTT necrosis were less, and liver cirrhosis was more serious. Conclusion: Preoperative TACE for resectable large HCC should be used on the basis of strict selection because it does not provide complete tumor necrosis and may result in delayed surgery in some cases.

Preventive effect of regional radiotherapy with phosphorus-32 glass microspheres in hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after hepatectomy

AIM: To evaluate the preventive effects of phosph-orus-32 glass microspheres (P32-GMS) in the recurrence of massive hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) after tumor resection. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients with massive HCCs received local P32-GMS implantation after liver tumors were removed,while the other 38 patients with massive HCCs were not treated with P32-GMS after hepatectomies. The radioactivity of the blood,urine and liver were examined. The complications,HCC recurrence and overall survival rates in the patients were analyzed. RESULTS: P32-GMS implanted in the liver did not cause systemic absorption of P32. There were no significant differences of postoperative complications between the patients with and without P32-GMS treatment. The short-term (six months and 1 year) and long-term (2,3 and over 3 years) recurrence rates in patients who received P32-GMS radiotherapy were signifi cantly decreased,and the overall survival rates in this group were signifi cantly improved. CONCLUSION: P32-GMS implantation in the liver can significantly decrease the postoperative recurrence and improve the overall survival in HCCs patients after hepatectomy. This therapy may provide an innovative method in prevention of HCC recurrence after operation.

The value and limitation of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in preventing recurrence of resected hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To evaluate the value and limitation of postoperative transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in preventing recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: In the first group, 987 postoperative patients with HCC, who did not have any evidence of recurrence in the first preventative TACE but were found to have recurrence at different times during the follow-up survey, were analyzed. In the second group, 643 postoperative patients with HCC had no TACE for compared study. To study the relationship between the recurrence time and the number of TACE treatments was analyzed. RESULTS: The 6-, 12-, and 18-mo recurrence rates in the first and second groups were 22.2% (210 cases) vs 61.6% (396 cases), 78.0% (770 cases) vs74.7% (480 cases) and 88.6% (874 cases) vs80.1% (515 cases). There were significant differences between the recurrence rates of the two groups at 6 mo (P＜0.0001).CONCLUSION: The principal role of TACE after HCC operation is to suppress, detect early and treat micrometastasis. It has a good effect of preventing recurrence of HCC in 6 mo, but such an effect is less satisfactory in a longer period. When it is uncertain whether HCC is singlecentral or multi-central and if there is cancer residue or metastasis after operation, TACE is valuable to prevent recurrence.

Risk factors for residual tumor after resection of hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM:To identify the clinicopathological risk factors correlated with residual tumor in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after resection. METHODS:From January 2001 to April 2007,766 HCC patients who had undergone resection were included in this research. Lipiodol angiography was performed within 2 mo after surgery and followed by post-Lipiodol computed tomography (CT) 4 wk later for all 766 patients to monitor tumor in the remnant liver. Tumor detected within the first 3-mo postoperative period was defined as residual tumor. Patients were divided into 2 groups:disease or disease-free within the first 3 mo after surgery. Risk factors for residual tumor were investigated among various clinicopathological variables. RESULTS:A total of 63 (8.22%) patients were found to have residual tumor after surgery. Three independent factors associated with residual tumor were identified by multivariate analysis:preoperative serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) level [odds ratio (OR) = 1.68 (95% confidence interval (CI):1.20-2.36)],tumor size [OR = 1.73 (95% CI:1.29-2.31)] and microvascular invasion [OR = 1.91 (95% CI:1.12-3.24)]. CONCLUSION:Residual tumor is related to AFP level,tumor size and microvascular invasion. Patients at high risk should undergo closer follow-up and could be candidates for multimodality therapy.

Addition of hepatectomy decreases liver recurrence and leads to long survival in hilar cholangiocarcinoma

AIM： To evaluate hepatic recurrence and prognostic factors for survival in patients with surgically resected hilar cholangiocarcinoma in a single institution over the last 13 years. METHODS： From 1994 to 2007, all patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma referred to a surgical clinic were evaluated. Demographic data, tumor characteristics, and outcome were analyzed retrospectively. Outcome was compared in patients who underwent additional liver resection with resection of the tumor. RESULTS： Of the 69 patients submitted to laparotomy for tumor resection, curative resection （Ro resection） was performed in 40 patients, and palliative resection in 29. Thirty-one patients had only duct resection, and 38 patients had combined duct resection with liver resection including 34 total or part caudate lobes. Curative rates with the combined hepatectomy were significantly improved compared with those without additional hepatectomy （27/38 vs 13/31; X^2 = 5.94, P 〈 0.05）. Concomitant liver resection was associated with a decreased incidence of initial recurrence in liver one year after surgery （11/38 vs 23/31; X^2 = 13.98, P 〈 0.01）. The 3-year survival rate after Ro resection was 30.7% and was 10.5% for palliative resection. R0 resection improved the 3-year survival rate （30.7% vs 10.5%; X^2 = 12.47, P 〈 0.01）.CONCLUSION： Hepatectomy, especially including the caudate lobe combined with bile duct resection should be considered standard treatment to cure hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Construction and clinical significance of a predictive system for prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: The aims of this study were to explore individualized treatment method for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients whose maximum tumor size was less than 5 cm to improve prognosis and survival quality. METHODS: Thirty cases of primary HCC patients undergoing tumor resection were retrospectively analyzed (resection group). All the tumors were proved as primary HCC with pathologic examination. The patients were divided into two groups according to follow-up results: group A, with tumor recurrence within 1 year after resection; group B, without tumor recurrence within 1 year. Immunohist-ochemical stainings were performed using 11 kinds of monoclonal antibodies (AFP, c-erbB2, c-met, c-myc, HBsAg, HCV, Ki-67, MMP-2, nm23-H1, P53, and VEGF), and expressing intensities were quantitatively analyzed. Regression equation using factors affecting prognosis of HCC was constructed with binary logistic method. HCC patients undergoing percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (PMCT) were also retrospectively analyzed (PMCT group). Immunohistochemical stainings of tumor biopsy samples were performed with molecules related to HCC prognosis, staining intensities were quantitatively analyzed, coincidence rate of prediction was calculated. RESULTS: In resection group, the expressing intensities of c-myc, Ki-67, MMP-2 and VEGF in cancer tissue in group A were significantly higher than those in group B (t = 2.97, P= 0.01; t = 2.42, P= 0.03<0.05; t = 2.57, P= 0.02<0.05; t = 3.43, P = 0.004<0.01, respectively); the expressing intensities of 11 kinds of detected molecules in para-cancer tissue in groups A and B were not significantly different (P>0.05). The regression equation predicting prognosis of HCC is as follows: P(1) = 1/[1+e-(3.663-0.412mycc-2.187kl-67c-0.397vegfc)]. It demonstrates that prognosis of HCC in resection group was related with c-myc, Ki-67 and VEGF expressing intensity in cancer tissue. In PMCT group, the expressing intensities of c-myc, Ki-67 and VEGF in cancer tissue in group A were significantly higher than those in group B (t = 4.57, P= 0.000<0.01; t = 2.08, P= 0.04<0.05; t = 2.38, P= 0.02<0.05, respectively); the expressing intensities of c-myc, Ki-67 and VEGF in para-cancer tissue in groups A and B were not significantly different (P>0.05). The coincidence rate of patients undergoing PMCT in group A was 88.00% (22/25), in group B 68.75% (11/16), the total coincidence rate was 80.49% (33/41). CONCLUSION: The regression equation is accurate and feasible and could be used for predicting prognosis of HCC, it helps to select treatment method (resection or PMCT) for HCC patients to realize individualized treatment to improve prognosis.

Long-term outcomes of hepatectomy vs percutaneous ablation for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma≤4 cm

AIM： To determine which treatment modality - hepatectomy or percutaneous ablation - is more beneficial for patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） （≤4 cm） in terms of long-term outcomes. METHODS： A retrospective analysis of 149 patients with HCC ≤ 4 cm was conducted. Eighty-five patients underwent partial hepatectomy （anatomic in 47 and nonanatomic in 38） and 64 underwent percutaneous ablation （percutaneous ethanol injection in 37, radiofrequency ablation in 21, and microwave coagulation in 6）. The median follow-up period was 69 mo. RESULTS： Hepatectomy was associated with larger tumor size （P〈0.001）, whereas percutaneous ablation was significantly associated with impaired hepatic functional reserve. Local recurrence was less frequent following hepatectomy （P〈0.0001）. Survival was better following hepatectomy （median survival time： 122 mo） than following percutaneous ablation （median survival time： 66 mo; P= 0.0123）. When tumor size was divided into ≤ 2 cm vs 〉 2 cm, the favorable effects of hepatectomy on long-term survival was seen only in patients with tumors 〉2 cm （P= 0.0001）. The Cox proportional hazards regression model revealed that hepatoctomy （P= 0.006） and tumors ≤ 2 cm （P=0.017） were independently associated with better survival. CONCLUSION： Hepatectomy provides both better local control and better long-term survival for patients with HCC ≤4 cm compared with percutaneous ablation. Of the patients with HCC ≤4 cm, those with tumors 〉 2 cm are good candidates for hepatectomy, provided that the hepatic functional reserve of the patient permits resection.

Macrophage inflammatory protein-2 contributes to liver resection-induced acceleration of hepatic metastatic tumor growth

AIM： To study the role of macrophage inflammatory protein （HIP）-2 in liver resection-induced acceleration of tumor growth in a mouse model of hepatic metastasis. METHODS： After a 50% hepatectomy, 1×10^5 CT26.WT cells were implanted into the left liver lobe of syngeneic balb/c mice （PHx）. Additional animals were treated with a monoclonal antibody （HAB452） neutralizing HIP-2 （PHx＋mAB）. Non-resected and non-mAB-treated mice （Con） served as controls. After 7 d, tumor angiogenesis and microcirculation as well as cell proliferation, tumor growth, and CXCR-2 expression were analyzed using in- travital fluorescence microscopy, histology, immunohisto- chemistry, and flow cytometry. RESULTS： Partial hepatectomy increased （P〈0.05）the expression of the HIP-2 receptor CXCR-2 on tumor cells when compared with non-resected controls, and markedly accelerated （P〈 0.05） angiogenesis and metastatic tumor growth. Neutralization of HIP-2 by HAB452 treatment significantly （P〈 0.05） depressed CXCR-2 expression. Further, the blockade of MIP-2 reduced the angiogenic response （P〈 0.05） and inhibited tumor growth （P〈 0.05）. Of interest, liver resection-induced hepatocyte proliferation was not effected by anti-HIP-2 treatment. CONCLUSION： HIP-2 significantly contributes to liver resection-induced acceleration of colorectal CT26.WT hepatic metastasis growth.

Therapeutic options for intermediate-advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies, ranking the sixth in the world, with 55% of cases occurring in China. Usually, patients with HCC did not present until the late stage of the disease, thus limiting their therapeutic options. Although surgical resection is a potentially curative modality for HCC, most patients with intermediate-advanced HCC are not suitable candidates. The current therapeutic modalities for intermediate-advanced HCC include: (1) surgical procedures, such as radical resection, palliative resection, intraoperative radiofrequency ablation or cryosurgical ablation, intraoperative hepatic artery and portal vein chemotherapeutic pump placement, two-stage hepatectomy and liver transplantation; (2) interventional treatment, such as transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, portal vein embolization and image-guided locoregional therapies; and (3) molecularly targeted therapies. So far, how to choose the therapeutic modalities remains controversial. Surgeons are faced with the challenge of providing the most appropriate treatment for patients with intermediate-advanced HCC. This review focuses on the optional therapeutic modalities for intermediateadvanced HCC.

Resection of a locally advanced hilar tumor and the hepatic artery after stepwise hepatic arterial embolization: A case report

We herein report a case of a hilar tumor with extensive invasion to the proper hepatic artery, which was successfully treated with a radical resection in a 57-year-old female patient after a stepwise hepatic arterial embolization. She underwent right colectomy and partial hepatectomy for advanced colon cancer two years ago and radiofrequency ablation therapy for a liver metastasis one year ago, respectively. A recurrent tumor was noted around the proper hepatic artery with invasion to the left hepatic duct and right hepatic artery 7 mo previously. We planned a radical resection for the patient 5 mo after the absence of tumor progression was confirmed while he was undergoing chemotherapy. To avoid surgery-related liver failure, we tried to promote the formation of collateral hepatic arteries after stepwise arterial embolizationof the posterior and anterior hepatic arteries two weeks apart. Finally, the proper hepatic artery was occluded after formation of collateral flow from the inferior phrenic and superior mesenteric arteries was confirmed. One month later, a left hepatectomy with hepatic arterial resection was successfully performed without any major complications.

A special recurrent pattern in small hepatocellular carcinoma after treatment:Bile duct tumor thrombus formation

AIM:To investigate the clinicopathologic features of bile duct tumor thrombus(BDTT) occurrence after treatment of primary small hepatocellular carcinoma(sHCC) .METHODS:A total of 423 patients with primary sHCC admitted to our hospital underwent surgical resection or local ablation.During follow-up,only six patients were hospitalized due to obstructive jaundice,which occurred 5-76 mo after initial treatment.The clinicopathologic features of these six patients were reviewed.RESULTS:Six patients underwent hepatic resection(n=5) or radio-frequency ablation(n=1) due to primary sHCC.Five cases had an R1 resection margin,and one case had an ablative margin less than 5.0 mm.No vascular infiltration,microsatellites or bile duct/canaliculus affection was noted in the initial resected specimens.During the follow-up,imaging studies revealed a macroscopic BDTT extending to the common bile duct in all six patients.Four patients had a concomitant intrahepatic recurrent tumor.Surgical re-resection of intrahepatic recurrent tumors and removal of BDTTs(n=4) ,BDTT removal through choledochotomy(n= 1) ,and conservative treatment(n=1) was performed.Microscopic portal vein invasion was noted in three of the four resected specimens.All six patients died,with a mean survival of 11 mo after BDTT removal or conservative treatment.CONCLUSION:BDTT occurrence is a rare,special recurrent pattern of primary sHCC.Patients with BDTTs extending to the common bile duct usually have an unfavorable prognosis even following aggressive surgery.Insufficient resection or ablative margins against primary sHCC may be a risk factor for BDTT development.

Ex-situ liver surgery without veno-venous bypass

AIM:To evaluate the results of hepatic resection with ex-situ hypothermic perfusion and without veno-venous bypass.METHODS:In 3 patients with liver tumor,the degree of the inferior vena cava and/or main hepatic vein involvement was verified when the liver was dissociated in the operation.It was impossible to resect the tumors by the routine hepatectomy,so the patients underwent ex-situ liver surgery,vein cava replacement and hepatic autotransplantation without veno-venous bypass.All surgical procedures were carried out or supervised by a senior surgeon.A retrospective analysis was performed for the prospectively collected data from patients with liver tumor undergoing ex-situ liver surgery,vein cava replacement and hepatic autotransplantation without veno-venous bypass.We also compared our data with the 9 cases of Pichlmayr's group.RESULTS:Three patients with liver tumor were analysed.The first case was a 60-year-old female with a huge haemangioma located in S1,S4,S5,S6,S7 and S8 of liver;the second was a 64-year-old man with cholangiocarcinoma in S1,S2,S3 and S4 and the third one was a 55-year-old man with a huge cholangiocarcinoma in S1,S5,S7 and S8.The operation time for the three patients were 6.6,6.4 and 7.3 h,respectively.The anhepatic phases were 3.8,2.8 and 4.0 h.The volume of blood loss during operation were 1200,3100,2000 mL in the three patients,respectively.The survival periods without recurrence were 22 and 17 mo in the first two cases.As for the third case complicated with postoperative hepatic vein outflow obstruction,emergency hepatic vein outflow extending operation and assistant living donor liver transplantation were performed the next day,and finally died of liver and renal failure on the third day.Operation time(6.7 ± 0.47 h vs 13.7 ± 2.6 h) and anhepatic phase(3.5 ± 0.64 h vs 5.7 ± 1.7 h) were compared between Pichlmayr's group and our series(P = 0.78).CONCLUSION:Ex-situ liver resection and liver autotransplantation has shown a potential for treatment of complicated hepatic neoplasms that are unresectable by traditional procedures.

Classification of right hepatectomy for special localized malignant tumor in right liver lobe

AIM： To describe a new classification method of righth epatectomy according to the different special positionsof tumors.METHODS： According to positions, 91 patients with malignant hepatic tumor in the right liver lobe were divided into six groups： tumors in the right posterior lobe and （or） the right caudate lobe compressing the right portal hilum （n = 14, 15.4%）, tumors in the right liver lobe compressing the inferior vena cava and （or） hepatic veins （n = 11, 12.9%）, tumors infiltrating diaphragmatic muscle （n = 7, 7.7%）, tumors in the hepatorenal recess （infiltrating the right fatty renal capsule, transverse colon and right adrenal gland, n = 8, 8.8%）, tumors deeply located near the vertebral body （n = 3, 3.3%）, tumors at other sites in the right liver lobe （the control group, n = 48,52.75%）. The values of intraoperative blood loss （IBL）, tumor＇s maxim cross-section area （TMCSA）, and time of hepatic hilum damping （THHC） and incidence of postoperative complications were compared between five groups of tumor and control group, respectively.RESULTS： The THHC in groups 1-4 was significantly longer than that in the control group, the IBL in groups 1-4 was significantly higher than that in the control group, the TMCSA in groups 2-4 was significantly larger than that in the control group, and the ratio of IBL/TMCSA in group 1 was significantly higher than that in the control group. There was no significant difference in the indexes between group 5 and the control group.CONCLUSION： The site of tumor is the key factor that determines IBL.

Choice between different operative techniques on cavernous hepatic hemangiomas

Objective： To investigate the optimizing of operative techniques on cavernous hepatic hemangioma by comparing the effective of the two approaches （enucleation and hepatectomy）. Methods： From May 1994 to September 2006, fortythree patients underwent the surgical removal of the cavernous hepatic hemangioma were analyzed retrospectJvely. Enucleation was used for 16 cases and hepatectomy for 27 cases. The relative clinical data and operative factors between the two operative techniques were compared. Results： Statistically significant differences in tumor size, location and intraoperative blood lose between the two groups were observed （P 〈 0.05 ）. Although enucleation was associated with less intraoperative bleeding and transfusion requirement but no significant differences in postoperative liver functional parameter, complication and length of hospital stay were observed. Conclusion： With proper choice, enucleation and hepatectomy both are effective treatments for cavernous hepatic hemangiomas.

Laparoscopic hepatectomy for liver neoplasms in 15 cases

Objective： The aim of our study was to retrospectively analyze 15 patients＇ clinical materials with laparoscopic resection of liver neoplasms. Methods： From December 2007, a total of 15 patients with liver neoplasms were performed with laparoscopic hepatectomy, and their clinical materials, perioperative dates, postoperative complications, postoperative recovery and short-term curative effects were analyzed and summarized respectively. Results： Laparoscopic hepatectomy （LH） were performed in 15 patients, including 1 case underwent laparoscopic hepatic left Iobectomy, 1 case of left lateral hepatectomy, 13 cases of partial liver resection. Fourteen cases of total laparoscopic liver resections for liver neoplasms, 1 case of hand-assisted laparoscopic liver resection of the tumor, there was no conversion to open approach. Of the 15 patients with liver neoplasms, 13 cases of hepatic neoplasms with the maximum diameter was 8 cm× 8 cm × 9 cm, 9 cases of the borderline micro hepatocellular carcinoma （MHCC） with the diameter not more than 2 cm, 3 cases of hepatic benign tumor. The mean operation time was （120 ± 30） min, and the intraoperative average hemorrhage was 100 mL, beginning to eat and get out of bed following 1-2 days of operation. The average postoperative hospitalization was 8 days, WBC, ALl＇, AST, albumin, bilirubin returned to normal after one week of operation. There were no postoperative complications such as hemorrhage, bile leakage or air embolism etc. Twelve patients with HCC were confirmed by postoperative pathology, 1 case of liver smooth muscle lipoma, 2 case of hepatic hemangioma. By one year of followed-up in 12 cases of HCC, the longest survival was 38 months, and no recurrence or death, 1 year survival rate was 100%. Conclusion： Among the choice of cases, the advantages of LH for liver neoplasms compared with open surgery were less trauma, faster recovery and less blood loss. it is safe and effective for choosing a reasonable surgical indication, especially for peripheral micro hepatocellular carcinoma.

Autologous serum can induce mesenchymal stem cells into hepatocyte-like cells

Objective： To investigate whether the rabbit serum after radiofrequency ablation to liver tumor can induce mesenchymal stem cells （MSCs） differentiating into hepatocyte-like cells in order to find a new source and culture process for repairing liver injury. Methods： A tumor piece of 1 mm× 1mm×1 mm was transplanted into a tunnel at right liver of rabbits. The model of liver tumor was established after 2-3 weeks. The serum was collected from rabbits 72 h after being subjected to radiofrequency ablation of the liver tumor. Mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from rabbit bone marrow and cultured in DMEM containing autologous rabbit serum. Three kinds of media （L-DMEM） were tested respectively： ① containing 10% fetal calf serum （FCS）; ② containing 30% rabbit autologous serum after radiofrequency ablation of the liver tumor （ASRF）; ③ containing 30% rabbit autologous serum （AS）. MSCs were cultured on 12-well plates until passage 2 and examined under the light and electron microscopy at indicted intervals. The expression of albumin and CKl8 was detected using immunofluorescence to identify the characteristics of differentiated cells. Results： MSCs performed differently in the presence of fetal calf serum, rabbit autologous serum and rabbit autologous serum after radiofrequency ablation of the liver tumor. Induced by the serum after radiofrequency ablation to liver tumor for 7 d, the spindle-shaped MSCs turned into round shaped and resembled hepatocyte-like cells. The reactions were not found in MSCs cultured in FCS and AS groups. After induction for 14 d, slender microvilli, cell-cell junction structure and cholangiole emerged, and the differentiated cells expressed albumin and CKl 8. All those could not been observed in 10% FCS and 30% autologous serum groups. Conclusion： Mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells in the serum after radiofrequency ablation of liver tumor, providing us a potential cell source and culture process for clinical application in liver injury repairing.

“Three-Grade Criteria” of Radical Resection for Primary Liver Cancer

OBJECTIVE The present study was designed to develop the “Three- Grade Criteria” for radical resection of primary liver cancer （PLC） and to evaluate its clinical significance. METHODS Criteria for radical resection of PLC were summed up to 3 grades based on criterion development. Grade Ⅰ： complete removal of all gross tumors with no residual tumor at the excision margin. Grade Ⅱ： on the basis of Grade Ⅰ, additional 4 requirements were added： （1） the tumor was not more than two in number; （2） no tumor thrombi in the main trunks or the primary branches of the portal vein, the common hepatic duct or its primary branches, the hepatic veins or the inferior vena cava; （3）no hilar lymph nodes metastases; （4）no extrahepatic metastases. Grade Ⅲ ： in addition to the above criteria, negative postoperative follow-up result including AFP dropping to a normal level （with positive AFP before surgery） within 2 months after operation, and no residual tumor upon diagnostic imaging.The clinical data from 354 patients with PLC who underwent hepatectomy were reviewed retrospectively. Based on the “Three-Grade Criteria” these patients were divided into 6 groups： Grade Ⅰ radical group, Grade Ⅰ palliative group, Grade Ⅱ radical group, Grade Ⅱ palliative group, Grade Ⅲ radical group, Grade Ⅲ palliative group. The survival rate of each group was calculated by the life-table method and the rates compared among the groups. RESULTS The survival rate of patients receiving radical treatment was better than those receiving palliative treatment （P〈0.01）. Survival improved as more criteria were applied. The 5-year survival rate of the patients in Grade Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ who underwent radical resection was 43.2%, 51.2% and 64.4%, respectively （P〈0.01）. CONCLUSION The “Three-Grade Criteria” may be applied for judging the curability of resection therapy for PLC. The stricter the criterion used, the better the survival would be. Adopting high-grade criteria to select cases and guide operations and strengthening postoperative follow-up would improve the results of hepatectomy for PLC.