Metastasis remains one of the major challenges before hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is finally con-quered. This paper summarized a decade's studies on HCC metawstasis at the Liver Cancer Institute of Fudan University. We have established a sptepwise metastatic human HCC model system, which included a metastatic HCC model in nude mice (LCI-D20), a HCC cell line with hgh metastatic potential (MHCC97), a relatively low metastatic potential cell clone (MHCC97L) and several stepwise high metastatic potential cellclones (MHCC97H, HCCLM3, and HCCLM6) from their parent MHCC97 cell. Endeavors have been made for searching human HCC metastasis-related chromosomes/proteins/genes. Monogene-based studies revealed that HCC invasion/metastasis was similar to that of other solid tumorsa, and the biological characteristics of small HCC were only slightly better that that of large HCC. Using comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), genotyping, cDNA microarray, and 2-dimensional gel electrophore-sis, we obtained some interesting results. In particular, in collaboration with the National Institute of Health (NIH) in the United Staters, we generated a molecular signature that can classify metastatic HCC patients, identified ostewopntin as a lead gene in the signature, and found that genes favoring metastasis progression were initiated in the primary tumors. We also found that chromosome 8p deletion, particularly in the region of 8p23, was associated with HCC metastasis. Cytokeratin 19 was identified as one of the proteins, which was found in MHCC97H, but not in MHCC97L cells. Experi-mental interventions using the high metastatic nude mice model have provided clues for the prevention of HCC metastasis. Translation from workbench to bedside demonstrated that serum VEGF, microvessel density, and p53 scoring may be of value for the prediction of postoperative metastatic recurrence. Interferon alpha proved effective for the prevention of recurrence both experimentally and clinically. In conclusion, HCC metastasis that probably initiated in the prim,ary tumor is a multigene-involved, multistep, and changing is a multigene-involved, multistep, and changing process. The further elucidation of the mechanism underlying HCC metastasis will provide a more solid basos for the prediction and prevention of the metastatic recurrence of HCC.

A highly metastatic LCI•D20 model of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was obtained via orthotopic implantation of a histologically preserved metastatic tumour selected from I of 30 surgical specimens, and has been maintained for 18 passages in nude mice. All mice with transplanted tumours exhibited 100% transplantability and metastatic ability, as well as various manifestations reminiscent of tumour behaviour in HCC pa-tients. These included: local growth, regional invasion, spontane-ous metastasis to liver, lymph nodes and lungs, and peritoneal seeding, Histological characteristics of the LCI-D20 tumour were similar to those of the original tumour. Karyotypic analysis revealed heteroploid cells. Immunohistochemically, expression of AFP and HBXAG was shown, Our nude mouse model with its high metastatic rate and short latency period could be an interesting tool for the study of human HCC.

The poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was partly a result of the majority of unresectable HCCs in clinical patients. Fortunately, with the progress of regional cencer therapics and multimo-dality trealent, some of the licalized unresectable HCCs were converted to resectable ones. During the period 1960-1994, 72 of the 663 patients with surgically verified unresectable HCCs have been converted to resectable ones. During the period 1960-1994, 72 of the 663 patients with surgically verified unreseetable HCCs have been converted to rescctable. Sucessful cytoreduction with median diameter reduced from 10 cm to 5 cm was mainly a result of the triple or double combination treatment with hepatic artery ligation, hepatic artery cannulation with infusion, radioimmunotherapy. and fractionated regional radiotherapy. The interval hetween the first operation and the sequential reection was 5 months. The operative mortality was 1.4% for sequential resection, and the 5-year sursival was 62.1%. Analysis of factors influencing sequenlial resection rate revealed HCCs that were single nodule, well encapsulated, situated at right lobe or hepatic hilum, associated with micromodular cirrhosis, and treated with triple or double combination modalities had higher sequential resection rate as compared to their counterparts. Analysis of factors influencing sursival after sequential resection revealed that HCCs with a solitary lumor confined in one lobe, without tumor embolus, and without residual cancer in specimen of sequential resection, had longer survival. It is suggesled that localized unreseelable, solitary, well encapsulated, reght lobe or hilar HCC, associated with micronodular cirrhosis, will be good candidates for cytoreduction and sequential resection; and HCCs with unilateral involvement, without tumor embolus, and with complete necrosis of tumor after multimodality trcatment favored better prognosis.