Liver Cancer

Research in the area of gastroenterology reported from X.P. Zhou and colleagues

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"Six hundreds and twenty-nine routine pathological sections from these patients were re-examined retrospectively by light microscopy. In the prospective study, curative hepatectomy was performed from November 2001 to March 2003 for 76 histologically verfied PLC patients without definite macroscopic tumor thrombi or macrosatellite's or extrahepatic metastases in preoperative imaging. Six hundreds and forty-five pathological sections from these patients were examined by light microscopy. The resected liver specimens were minutely examined to measure the resection margin and to detect the number of daughter tumor nodules, dominant lesions, and macroscopic tumor thrombi inside the lumens of the major venous system. The paraffin sections were microscopically examined to detect the microsatellites, microscopic tumor thrombi, fibrosis tumor capsules, as well as capsule invasion and the distance of histological spread of the micrometastases In the retrospective study, 70 micrometastases were found in surrounding liver in 26 of the 120 cases (21.7%). The farthest distance of histological micrometastasis was 3.5 mm, 5.3 mm and 6.0 mm in 95%, 99% and 100% cases, respectively. Macroscopic tumor thrombi or macrosatellites were observed in 18 of 76 cases, and 149 micrometastases were found in the surrounding live in 25 (43.1%) of 58 cases with no macroscopic tumor thrombi. The farthest distance of histological micrometastasis was 4.5 mm, 5.5 mm and 6.0 mm in 95%, 99% and 100% cases, respectively. Two hundred and sixty-seven micrometastases were found in surrounding liver in 14 (77.8%) out of 18 cases with macroscopic tumor thrombi or macrosatellites," wrote X.P. Zhou and colleagues.

The researchers concluded: "The farthest distance of histological micrometastasis was 18.5 mm, 18.5 mm and 19.0 mm in 95%, 99% and 100% cases, respectively The required minimal length of RM is 5.5 mm and 6 mm respectively to achieve 99% and 100% micrometastasis clearance in surrounding liver of PLC patients without macroscopic tumor thrombi or macrosatellites, and should be greater than 18.5 mm to obtain 99% micrometastasis clearance in surrounding liver of patients with macroscopic tumor thrombi or macrosatellites."

Zhou and colleagues published their study in World Journal of Gastroenterology (Micrometastasis in surrounding liver and the minimal length of resection margin of primary liver cancer. World Journal of Gastroenterology, 2007;13(33):4498-4503).

For more information, contact G.S. Yang, Military Med University 2, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Dept. of Hepatobiliary Surgery, 225 Changhai Rd., Shanghai 200438, People's Republic of China.

Publisher contact information for the World Journal of Gastroenterology is: W J G Press, Apt 1066, Yishou Garden, No 58, North Langxinzhuang Rd., PO Box 2345, Beijing 100023, People's Republic of China.

Keywords: People's Republic of China, Shanghai, Life Sciences, Angiogenesis, Micrometastasis, Gastroenterology.

This article was prepared by Gastroenterology Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Gastroenterology Week via NewsRx.com.