Little is known as to how hepatectomy is associated with the growth of hepatic tumours, which may reside in the remaining liver after curative resection for hepatocellular carcinoma. Using an intra-hepatic tumour implantation model in rats, the effects of hepatectomy on tumour growth in the remaining liver were investigated. On post-operative day 7, the tumour weight in the remaining liver following 30% hepatectomy was 0.321 ± 0.058 g (mean ± SD) which was significantly greater than that (0.245 ± 0.040 g) in sham operations (P < 0.05). However, the tumour weight (0.156 ± 0.067 g) in the remaining liver following 60% hepatectomy was significantly lower than that in sham animals (P < 0.005). The number of TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) positive tumour cells was significantly increased in 60% hepatectomy as compared with the sham and 30% hepatectomy group. The mRNA expression of TGF-β1, TNF-α and Fas in the tumour portion of 60% hepatectomy, was higher than that in 30% hepatectomy group. Plasma levels of TGF-β1 were inversely correlated with intra-hepatic tumour weights. These results suggest that major hepatic resection may lead to an increased induction of apoptosis for the remaining hepatic tumour. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaign

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