Backgrounds and aims To investigate the effects of selective Cox-1 and Cox-2 inhibitor on proliferation and apoptosis of HCC cell. Methods Hep3B and SNU 387 cells were treated with NS-398 and SC-560. MTT assay, caspase 3/7 activity assay and TUNEL assay were performed. Cox protein and mRNA expression were measured by Western blot and real time RT-PCR. Results In Hep3B cell line, Cox-1, Cox-2 (50, 100, 200 uM) and combination (25+25, 50+50, 100+100 uM) treatment after 24hr showed a significant dose dependent inhibitory effect on cell growth (p<0.05). Cox-1, Cox-2 (100 uM) and combination (50+50, 100+100 uM) treatment after 24hr significantly increased caspase 3/7 activity (p<0.05) and induced apoptosis (p <0.05). However, the combination treatment could not showed a additive effect to Cox-1 or Cox-2 inhibitor (p>0.05). In SNU 387 cell line, Cox-1 inhibitor and combination treatment showed a inhibitory effect on cell growth (p <0.05) similar to Hep3B cell line but any of treatment could not induce apoptosis significantly (p >0.05). In Cox protein and mRNA expression, SNU 387 cell line showed significant Cox-1 predominency (p=0.037) but Hep3B cell line showed Cox-2 predominency (p=0.032). Conclusions In HCC cells, no additive effect of the combination treatment of Cox-1 and Cox-2 inhibitors could be anticipated. The apoptosis inducing effect of Cox inhibitor could be different between HCC cell lines. More studies for the mechanism of different response to Cox inhibitor between cell lines is needed. Background: The aim of this study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose and recommended dose of combination chemotherapy with mitoxantrone and uracil/tegafur (UFT) (phase I part), and to clarify its efficacy (tumor response, overall survival, and progression free survival) and safety in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at the recommended dose (phase II part). Methods: Patients eligible for study had histologically confirmed, chemo-naïve advanced HCC, who were unsuitable for resection, local ablation therapy or transcatheter arterial chemoembolization. The therapy consisted of mitoxantrone dosages (6, 8 and 10 mg/m 2 /day) intravenously on day1 and oral administration of UFT 300 mg/m 2 on day 1 through day 21. The treatment was repeated every four weeks if there was no evidence of tumor progression or unacceptable toxicity. Results: A total of 25 patients were entered into the study. All had a good ECOG performance status score of 0-1. In phase I part, dose limiting toxicities occurred in all three patients (two patients: grade 4 neutropenia, one patient: grade 3 creatinine elevation) given mitoxantrone at dosage of 10 mg/m 2 /day, and the recommended mitoxantrone dosage was 8 mg/m 2 /day. Among 19 patients administered at the recommended dosage, one patient (5.3%) achieved a partial response, 8 patients (42.1%) had stable disease and 10 patients (52.6%) had progressive disease. One-year survival proportion, median survival and median progression free survival were 26.3%, 8.4 months and 2.5 months, respectively. The most common toxicities were grade 3-4 leucopenia (15.4%) and neutropenia(10.3%). Conclusion: Mitoxantrone 8 mg/m 2 with UFT 300 mg/m 2 /day is recommended dose. This regimen is generally well tolerated, but appears to have little activity for advanced HCC. These findings do not support its use in practice, and further trials with this regimen in patients with advanced HCC are not recommended. The study assessed the benefits of 3-D reconstruction of spiral CT scans for the diagnosis of and surgical guidance to large liver tumors or tumors at the hepatic hilum. We retrospectively analyzed 33 cases of children with such tumors treated in past 5 years.The patients were examined by 3-D reconstruction using 64 slice spiral CT. In 28 cases, the volume of tissue removed exceeded 1/3 the entire volume of the liver. In 5 cases, the excised tissue represented less than 1/3 of the total liver volume, but the location of the tumor was adjacent to major hepatic vessels. Pathological diagnoses included hepatoblastoma (n = 20), hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 4), mesenchymal hamartoma (n = 4), teratoma (n = 1) and adenoma (n = 4). All children had curative resections with tumor-free microscopic margins. 3-D CT imaging can provide high quality images and accurate location of the tumors. It could help the surgeon identify the tumor borders accurately and devise a safe surgical strategy. With its help the surgeon could identify vital hepatic blood vessels before operation, and can avoid massive hemorrhaging during operation. Background: To investigate the association between C-509T polymorphism of transforming growth factor (TGF)-1 gene and HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Patients with HBV infection (196 cases were HBV carriers, 379 cases were HCC) and 299 healthy volunteers were enrolled. The polymorphism of TGF-1 gene C-509T was identified by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. The concentrations of plasma TGF-1 were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). TGF-1 mRNA expression was quantified by real-time PCR. A recombinant construct containing -509C>T variant as promoter and CAT as reported gene was transfected into HepG2 cells. The reporter gene CAT was detected with ELISA. Results: The CT genotype at position -509 of TGF-1 gene prevailed in all three groups, the frequency of genotype CC and allele C at -509 in HCC were significantly higher than those of the HBV carriers and controls. The plasma TGF-1 concentration among the three genotypes did not show any significant difference in three groups. However, both the TGF-1concentration and liver mRNA levels were statistically higher in patients with CC genotype than in those with TT genotype in the HCC group. Reporter gene CAT was elevated when HepG2 were transfected with -509C-CAT recombinant construct compared to that with -509T-CAT one (p<0.05) Conclusion: The presence of C allele at position -509 may play an important role in the development of HBV-related HCC through influencing TGF-1 expression both at mRNA level and protein level. Background: To assess diagnostic value of N-glycan markers in identifying hepatocelluar carcinoma (HCC) from liver fibrosis after HBV infection. Methods: A total of 273 cases of HBV related liver fibrosis (n=128) and HCC (n=145) patients as well as matched healthy controls (n=120) were recruited. Routine liver function and tumor markers were detected by automatic biochemistry or immunological analyzer. N-glycome of serum protein was profiled by DNA sequencer-assisted fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis with a capillary electrophoresis-based ABI3130 sequencer. Results: The abuncance of a single agalacto biantennary glycan (NG1A2F, peak 4) was increased in liver fibrosis and decreased in HCC, while that of a branching triantennary glycan (NA3Fb, peak 9) was decreased in fibrosis and increased in HCC. The efficacy of the log ratio of above two N-glycan abundance [log (p9/4)] was similar to AFP in differentiation HCC from fibrotic patients. With logistic regression analysis, the accuracy and sensitivity of the diagnostic model combining AFP with N-glycan analysis(Cscore B) were increased 7-10% compared to AFP. Log(p9/4) was even more powerful in monitoring the progresison of HCC with the specificity improved 16% and accuracy improved 8% compared to that of AFP. Besides, log(peak 9/4) was correlated well with other tumor markers and TNM stages. Conclusions: The log ration of the abundance of a branching triantennary glycan (NA3Fb, peak 9) to a single agalacto biantennary glycan (NG1A2F, peak 4) and the model combining AFP with N-glycome markers are promising in HCC diagnosis and progression monitoring. The low incidence of tumor seeding and post-procedure bleeding after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of hepatic tumors has been attributed to the use of thermocoagulation of the tract, which results in necrosis, upon electrode withdrawal. However, different investigators use different techniques with no experimental evidence of the effectiveness of a particular technique. Objective: We aimed to compare the necrotic zone produced using different electrode withdrawal techniques. Methods: Eighteen tract ablation zones were created in ex vivo porcine livers by withdrawing an internally-cooled RFA electrode (Cool-tip radiofrequency system, Valleylab) 1-2 mm/second using energy-dependent (20 vs.40 vs.60 vs.80 watts) and temperature-dependent (80 vs. 90 0 C) techniques. Horizontal 