A common genetic trait through multistep hepatocarcinogenesis in a case with chronic hepatitis C

Common genetic traits are not well defined in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), because necroinflammation lasting long in prior to hepatocarcinogenesis embeds highly heterogenous genetic background in hepatocytes over the liver. We experienced a rare case with chronic hepatitis C, in which multiple liver tumors at different stages in multistep hepatocarcinogenesis were observed at the same time. Under the same genetic and etiological backgrounds, comparisons of expression profiles among dysplastic nodules (DN), well differentiated HCC (WEL), and moderately differentiated HCC (MOD) would provide critical genetic information for the initiation and progression of HCC. Liver tissues were obtained by needle biopsy from one of each of nontumorous liver tissues, DN, WEL, and MOD and subjected to expression analyses using GeneChip Human Transcriptome Array 2.0.