彩色多普勒超声鉴别诊断乳腺癌和非哺乳期乳腺炎性肿块的价值

Objective: To evaluate the value of identifying and diagnosing mammary carcinoma and non-lactation mastitis lump (NLM) by multicolor Doppler ultrasonography. Methods: We compared and analyzed the examination results of 69 cases of mammary carcinoma proved by surgical pathology and 22 cases of NLM before surgery by multicolor Doppler ultra-sonography. Results: The detection rates of mammary carcinoma and NLM focus by ultrasonic examining were 100%. The shape, envelope, foul line, blood stream between sound and image of two diseases were similar. Of the two diseases, the representation with slight calcification in lump, lower echo in low echo, bloodstream distribution and resistance were different. Conclusion: By analyzing the sound and image representation of mammary lump, we find color Doppler ultrasonography has significant value in identifying and diagnosing mammary carcinoma and non-lactation mastitis lump.     

经皮瘤内注射32P-玻璃微球治疗肝癌剂量与生物效应的实验研究

Objection:To study the relationship between different doses and biological effect of 32P-glass microspheres(32P-GMS) by percutaneous intra-tumor injection at different times and provide proofs of theory for clinical therapy.Methods:36 Zealand rabbits and Vx-2 were used to establish the animal model of liver tumor.Six groups were randomly designed.The suspension of different radiative doses of 32P-GMS combined with lipiodol-ultrafluid(0.1 mL) was respectively injected by percutaneous intra-tumor.The tumor tissues were examined by light microscope.MRI examination of liver tumors were performed before and after the injection.Results:C and D groups were observed that the tumor volume was decreased and the rate of restrained tumor was gradually increased after injection of 32P-GMS.The living tumor tissues of E group completely disappeared after the injection for two weeks.MRI examination showed that the tumor signal of E group was equal as T2 as the signal of normal liver parenchyma.The living tumor tissues were not found in F group after the injection for three weeks.Conclusion:111 MBq was the best radiative dose of 32P-GMS for treatment of 1 cm liver cancer by percutaneous intra-tumor injection.MRI examination was very valuable to evaluate the result and follow up after the injection to treat liver cancer.     

Recent progress of diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging in assessment of tumor in the body

In the last couple of years, as the development of new imaging techniques, diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging （DW-MRI） has been applied increasingly in the evaluation of various diseases in the body, and has been adopted frequently as an imaging tool in clinical tumor assessment. As a completely non-invasive, highly sensitive, well-tolerated and relatively low cost technique, diffusion-weighted imaging （DWI） can supply both quantitative and qualitative information at the cellular level by exploring irregular diffusion motion of water molecules within tissues in the body. In this article, we summarized the recent application and reliability of DWI in tumor evaluation including tumor detection, tumor features, and outcome of early treatment response.     

活检组织端粒酶活性检测评价肝癌合并肝硬化腹腔镜射频消融治疗的疗效

Objective： To explore the role of telomerase activity detected in biopsy samples for evaluating the efficacy of laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation （RFA） therapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） and liver cirrhosis. Methods： From August 2001 to October 2004, 34 cirrhotic patients with HCC were treated by laparoscopic RFA under general anesthesia. A total of 34 tumors, with a mean maximum tumor diameter of 4.0 ＋ 1.0 cm, were all located on the liver surface or adjacent to the gallbladder. Laparoscopic ultrasound-guided core biopsy for liver lesions was performed before and immediately after RFA therapy. In these biopsy samples, telomerase activity was detected by the ELISA-based telomeric repeat amplification protocol （ELISA-TRAP） assay, and pathological examination was routinely performed. Results： Laparoscopic RFA was successfully performed in all the 34 patients. A complete tumor necrosis was achieved in all patients on the contrast-enhanced helical CT scanning one month after laparoscopic RFA. The positive rates of telomerase activity and histopathologic diagnosis in biopsy samples were 91.2% （31/34） and 100% （34/34） respectively before RFA, and 26.5% （9/34） and 0% respectively after RFA. During a median follow-up period of 35 months （range, 18-51 months）, the rates of local tumor recurrence at the ablation sites in post-RFA telomerase-positive and negative patients were 88.9% （8/9） and 4% （1/25） respectively （P 〈 0.01）, and the rates of distant recurrence within the livers were 0% （0/9） and 12% （3/25） respectively （P 〉 0.05）. Conclusion： For cirrhotic patients with HCC treated by laparoscopic RFA, detection of telomerase activity in biopsy samples may be useful for evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of RFA and predicting postoperative local tumor recurrence.     

Ⅰ、Ⅱ期子宫内膜癌MRI表现与病理对照研究

Objective： To analyze MRI features of FIGO stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ endometrial carcinoma and to study the value of MRI in assessing myometrial and cervical invasion of endometrial carcinoma. Methods： Thirty patients with surgicopathologically proven endometrial carcinoma were included in this retrospective study. All patients underwent Tl-weighted spin-echo, T2-weighted fast spin-echo and dynamic contrastenhanced fast multiplanar spoiled gradient echo sequences before surgery. The type, signal intensity and enhancement features of the tumors and the appearance of junctional zone or subendometrial enhancement were analyzed. The MRI diagnosis of myometrial and cervical invasion was correlated with pathologic findings.Results： Endometrial carcinoma demonstrated diffuse widening of endometrial stripe （n=14） or polypoid or large mass in the endometrial cavity （n=16）. The tumors were usually isointense relative to the myometrium on TlWI and hyperintensity on T2WI. In the first phase of dynamic contrast-enhanced sequences, diffuse endometrial carcinoma usually showed mild （n=8） or moderate （n=5） enhancement, while focal endometrial carcinoma tended to enhance markedly （n=6） or moderately （n=9）. On T2WI junctional zone was seen in 18 cases. On dynamic contrast-enhanced images subendometrial enhancement was seen in 17 cases. The sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of dynamic contrast-enhanced images in combination with T2WI were 87.5%, 95.5% and 93.3% for assessing deep myometrial invasion, and 75%, 95.5% and 90% for assessing cervical invasion. Conclusion： MRI is accurate and reliable in the evaluation of myometrial and cervical invasion of endometrial carcinoma, and should be performed as preoperative routine examination.     

Experimental study on the gene therapy of malignant glioma with antisense VEGF RNA

Objective: To study the effect of antisense VEGF RNA on rat C6 gliomas in vivo and find out the feasibility of antiangiogenesis therapy with antisense VEGF RNA formalignant gliomas. Methods: Parental rat C6 glioma cells and C6 cells transfected with antisense VEGF cDNA were implanted intracerebrally and subcutaneously into SD rats as control and transfected group. Rats bearing cerebral and subcutaneous C6 gliomas were treated with antisense VEGF cDNA as treated group and sense VEGF cDNA and empty vector as control of treated group. The general manifestation, survival time, MRI and histopathological changes of all rats were observed. The volume of subcutaneously implanted tumors was determined regularly. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical staining were used for detection of VEGF gene expression of gliomas while PCNA immunostaining and TUNEL method for examination of proliferation activity and apoptosis of gliomas, respectively. Results: The survival of the rats in transfected and treated group was prolonged.There were two rats surviving over 90 d in the treated group and their tumors disappeared. The VEGF gene expression, the number of microvessels and the proliferation activity were decreased and a large amount of apoptotic cells could be found in cerebral and subcutaneous gliomas in treated and transfected groups. Conclusion:VEGF is one of the candidate genes for gene therapy of malignant gliomas. Antisense VEGF RNA combined with other therapies should be studied further for enhancing the therapeutic effect of malignant gliomas.     

螺旋CT与超声造影在肾细胞癌诊断中的对比研究

Objective： To investigate the efficiency of helical CT comparing with contrast-enhanced ultrasound, and to improve the diagnosis efficiency of renal cell carcinoma （RCC）. Methods： Thirty RCCs confirmed pathologically were studied retrospectively. The un-enhanced CT scan and the triphasic enhanced helical CT scan were performed in all cases, the gray-scale US and angiosonography with SonoVue were performed in all cases meantime. Results： 22 cases （73.3%） were diagnosed correctly by helical CT alone before operation. 7 cases （23.3%） were suspected as RCC with helical CT. One case （3.3%） was misdiagnosed with helical CT. 25 cases （83.3%） were diagnosed correctly with contrast-enhanced ultrasound alone pre-operation. One case （3.3%） was suspected as RCC with angiosonography. Four cases （13.3%） were misdiagnosed with angiosonography alone. 29 cases （96.7%） were diagnosed correctly by helical CT combining with angiosonography before operation, one case （3.3%） was diagnosed as renal mass with both helical CT and angiosonography. Conclusion： Contrast-enhanced ultrasound is sensitive in detecting blood flow, it can detect the enhancement of the tumor which cannot be detected by helical CT. CT and angiosonography have strong complement each other in the diagnosis of RCC.     

肝叶切除术后早期静脉无糖营养的临床研究

Objective： A randomized trial was designed to study the optimal nutrition after hepatolobectomy. Methods： Thirty-two patients receiving hepatolobectomy were randomly divided into 2 groups： 16 patients in the experimental group receiving high dose fat emulsion and amino acids without glucose for 7 days after hepatolobectomy, and 16 patients in the control group receiving traditional intravenous nutrition. Postoperative changes in blood glucose, lipid, amino acids and total ketone bodies were compared between two groups. Results： Postoperative glucose and lipid levels remained normal in the experimental group, while the free amino acids levels and utilization of ketone bodies were significantly higher than in the control group. Conclusion： Intravenous injection of glucose-free nutrition after hepatolobectomy could not only supply sufficient calories, but also avoid metabolic disturbance due to intravenous injection of glucose.     

A LIVER-TUMOR ADHESION PEPTIDE FROM RANDOM PHAGE DISPLAY LIBRARY

Objective： To identify and localize the synthesized targeting peptide A54 to liver cancer cell line BEL-7402 in vivo and in vitro for confirming the potential clinical application of peptide A54 in hepatocarcinoma targeting therapy. Methods： Phage A54 was confirmed by ELISA. Biotin and FAM labeled A54 peptides were identified and localized by means of jmmunohistochemistry and immunocytochemistry. Results： A54 peptide could target the liver-rumor tissue in vivo and adhere to several liver-rumor cells in vitro. FAM-labeled A54 peptides were localized on the membrane surface of liver-rumor cells. Conclusion： Synthesized A54 peptide obtained from in vivo phage display technology still kept special abilityto adhere liver-rumor cell in vivo and in vitro. The A54 peptide could be a candidate carrier for hepatocarcinoma targeting therapy.     

Phantom-based evaluations of two binning algorithms for four-dimensional CT reconstruction in lung cancer radiation therapy

Objective： The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of the phase-binning algorithm and am- plitude-binning algorithm for four-dimensional computed tomography （4DCT） reconstruction in lung cancer radiation therapy. Methods： Quasar phantom data were used for evaluation. A phantom of known geometry was mounted on a four-dimensional （4D） motion platform programmed with twelve respiratory waves （twelve lung patients trajectories） and scanned with a Philips Brilliance Big bore 16-slice CT simulator. The 4DCT images were reconstructed using both phase- and amplitude-binning algorithms. Internal target volumes （ITVs） of the phase- and amplitude-binned image sets were compared by evaluation of shape and volume distortions. Results： The phantom experiments illustrated that, as expected, maximum inhalation occurred at the 0% amplitude and maximum exhalation occurred at the 50% amplitude of the amplitude-binned 4DCT image sets. The amplitude-binned algorithm rendered smaller ITV than the phase-binning algorithm. Conclusion： The amplitude-binning algorithm for 4DCT reconstruction may have a potential advantage in reducing the margin and protecting normal lung tissue from unnecessary irradiation.     

Cancer mortality in Thorotrast-exposed patients in Japan: Aichi series

Background. To evaluate the late effect of internally deposited alpha emitters in humans, we performed, during the period 1979–1992, a follow-up study of patients who had received intravascular injections of Thorotrast (thorium dioxide) 30–50 years previously. The study was performed independently of and with no overlap of subjects in the previous Japanese study by Mori and coworkers. Methods. The patients were 198 war-wounded veterans with intrahepatic and splenic Thorotrast deposits that were detected by abdominal X-ray examination during the period 1975–1978. Results. During our observation period (1979–1992), 143 of 198 patients (1526 person-years) who had had Thorotrast injections died. Conclusion. Compared with 1113 war-wounded veterans with no history of Thorotrast injection, the Thorotrast-exposed patients had a 3.1-fold greater risk of death from all causes (95% confidence interval, 2.6–3.8), a 45.3 times greater risk of liver cancer (95% confidence interval, 24.8–82.5), and a 5.1 times greater risk of liver cirrhosis (95% confidence interval, 1.9–14.1). Received: June 25, 1998 / Accepted: September 10, 1998     

Major hepatic resection under total vascular exclusion

The major complications associated with liver resection are bleeding, hepatic decompensation and iatrogenic injury to the bile ducts and structures in the porta hepatis during its dissection. Operative blood loss and the amount of intraoperative blood transfusion has been shown repeatedly to be the single most important factor affecting the immediate prognosis of patients undergoing hepatic resection. Massive blood loss associated with the standard techniques of liver resection is frequently c…     

Signal mechanism of inhibition of bifidobacteria on growth of colon cancer

Bifidobacteria, a physiologically beneficial organism in intestinal tract of human body, are the most in number with the most important function. It can prevent occurrence and evolution of a great variety of tumors in human body. We have proved that the bifidobacteria adolescence could inhibit the growth of colon cancer significantly in vivo and explored its antitumor mechanisms from the angle of cellular apoptosis[1,2]. Nowadays it has been known that in colon cancer there exists a high-level…     

Pilot study of continuous low-dose 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin (FP regimen) for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer

Background. The effect of low-dose 5-fluorouracil (FU) and cisplatin therapy (FP regimen) against metastatic breast cancer was investigated. Methods. A pilot study of the FP regimen was performed in 11 patients with metastatic breast carcinoma who had previously received chemotherapy, including adriamycin, and/or hormonal therapy. Their median age was 56 years (range, 48–72 years). Visceral metastases were present in all patients. FU, at a dose of 170 mg/m² per day, was administered for 28 days by continuous intravenous infusion. Cisplatin (7 mg/m² per day) was given intravenously on days 1–5, 8–12, 15–19, and 22–26. After a 2-week interval, this treatment was repeated. Results. Of the 11 patients assessable for tumor response to the FP regimen, 4 patients (36%; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 8%–64%) achieved an objective response, with 1 showing a complete response and 3 showing a partial response. Median time to progression was 6.5 months (range, 4–25 months). The median survival time from the initiation of the FP regimen was 11 months (range, 3–25 months). Gastrointestinal and hematologic toxicity was mild. Conclusion. The FP regimen is promising for and has acceptable tolerance in patients with metastatic breast carcinoma refractory to previous anthracycline-containing chemotherapy. Received: July 27, 1998 / Accepted: September 22, 1999     

Transient cerebral hypoperfusion enhances intraarterial carmustine deposition into brain tissue

We hypothesized that bolus injections of lipid soluble chemotherapeutic drugs during transient cerebral hypoperfusion could significantly boost regional drug delivery. In the first two groups of New Zealand White rabbits we measured brain tissue carmustine concentrations after intravenous infusion, intraarterial infusion with normal perfusion, and after intraarterial injections during transient cerebral hypoperfusion. In the third group of animals we assessed the safety of the technique by assessing electroencephalographic changes for 6 h after flow arrest carmustine administration and subsequent histological examination. The brain tissue carmustine concentrations were fivefold to sevenfold higher when the drug was injected during cerebral hypoperfusion compared to a conventional intracarotid infusion (68.4 ± 24.5 vs. 14.2 ± 8.3 μg/g, n = 5 each, respectively, P < 0.0001). The brain tissue carmustine concentrations (y) were a linear function of the bolus dose (x) injected during cerebral hypoperfusion, y = 10.4 × x − 21 (R = 0.84, P < 0.001). Stable EEGs were recorded several hours after flow arrest carmustine exposure and histological examinations did not reveal any gross evidence of cerebral injury. Transient cerebral hypoperfusion during intraarterial bolus injection of carmustine significantly increases drug delivery. Clinical techniques that decrease CBF, such as, transient arterial occlusion by balloon tipped catheters, hyperventilation, hypothermia, induced hypotension, or transient circulatory arrest, could enhance intraarterial drug delivery to the brain. We believe that the mechanisms for improved drug delivery is the decrease in drug dilution by reduced or absent blood flow, decreased protein binding and a longer time for high concentrations of free drugs to transit through the blood brain barrier. Presentation at Scientific Meetings: This data was presented at the annual meeting of Association of University Anesthesiologists at Phoenix, Arizona May 13–15, 2006. Clinical implications: Transient cerebral hypoperfusion increased the deposition of intracarotid carmustine, a lipid soluble alkylating agent, into the brain by 5–7 fold compared to control intracarotid carmustine.     

Effect of arterial administration of a high-molecular weight antitumor agent, styrene maleic acid neocarzinostatin, in embolization-resistant liver cancer

Background. Hepatocellular carcinoma often shows a resistance to transcatheter arterial embolization in the course of therapy repetition. Methods. Forty-four of 103 consecutive patients with hepatocellular carcinoma showing a resistance to repeated embolization therapy were treated with intra-arterial injection of the high-molecular weight antitumor agent styrene-maleic acid neocarzinostatin (Zinostatin) mixed with Lipiodol (group A). The remaining 59 patients received repeated embolization with epirubicin given in the same way (group B). Results. In group A, computerized tomography scans 3 months after the therapy showed "complete" accumulation of Lipiodol in 2 patients (4.5%), and "good" accumulation (50%–99%) in 11 (25.0%); 10%–49% accumulation was shown in 12 patients (41.9%), and less than 10% in 19 patients (32.6%). In group B, 1 patient (1.7%) showed complete accumulation, 4 (6.8%) showed "good" accumulation, 10 (16.9%) showed 10%–49% accumulation, and 44 (74.6%) showed less than 10%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that factors affecting Lipiodol accumulation after therapy included tumor multiplicity (P < 0.0001), use of Zinostatin (P = 0.010), and decompensation of cirrhosis (P = 0.049). In the 44 patients with Zinostatin injection, tumor size was the only factor affecting Lipiodol accumulation. Survival rates in groups A and B were 70.4% and 45.8%, respectively, at the end of the first year, 36.8% and 17.3% at the end of the second year, and 24.5% and 13.0% at the end of the third year (P = 0.0087). Conclusion. Intra-arterial Zinostatin injection therapy increased the Lipiodol accumulation rate and the survival rate in patients with embolization-resistant HCC, and the best candidates for the treatment were patients with smaller liver cancer of 50 mm. Received: March 23, 1998 / Accepted: November 24, 1998     

Lack of consistency in the associations of Helicobacter pylori seropositivity with Se and Le polymorphisms among Japanese

Background: In our previous study, a marked association between Helicobacter pylori seropositivity and functional polymorphisms of the secretor and Lewis genes (odds ratio [OR], 0.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.14–0.70 for se/se genotype relative to Se/Se genotype; and OR, 10.3; 95% CI, 3.16–33.8 for high-risk group defined by the combination of Se and Le relative to low-risk group) had been observed for 239 non-cancer Japanese outpatients of the gastroenterology clinic (OGC) undergoing gastroscopy at Aichi Cancer Center Hospital. Methods: The present study was a confirmatory study to examine the association for 679 first-visit outpatients (FVO) of all clinics at the same cancer hospital and for 465 health checkup examinees (HCE) in the same city. Results: The associations between H. pylori seropositivity and the Se and Le genotypes were nonsignificant or even in the opposite direction among the FVO (OR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.00–2.32 for se/se genotype relative to Se/Se genotype; and OR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.43–1.40 for the high-risk group defined similarly to the previous study), and among the HCE (OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 0.75–2.07; and OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.50–2.26, respectively). The discrepancy between the previous and present results was not explained by the difference in the distributions of age, sex, smoking, and H. pylori seroprevalence. Conclusion: Even in the same ethnic group, different sources of subjects may demonstrate inconsistent findings due to an unidentified effect modification. Inconsistent findings have rarely been reported by the same research group, but they are very important to understand the whole picture of the association under study. Received: May 9, 2002 / Accepted: July 2, 2002 Acknowledgments This work was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for the Second Term Comprehensive 10-Year Strategy for Cancer Control from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan. The authors are grateful to Ms. Naomi Takeuchi for genotyping. Offprint requests to: N. Hamajima     

A correlative study of Ki67 and vascular endothelial growth factor and their value in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Objective： To study the correlation between Ki67 and vascular endothelial growth factor（VEGF） and the significance of their expression in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma（LSCC）. Methods： The expressions of Ki67 and VEGF in 40 cases of LSCC and 5 cases of normal laryngeal mucosa were examined by immunohistochemical staining. Results： The expression levels of Ki67 and VEGF in LSCC tissue were higher than in normal laryngeal mucosa （Ki67： P〈0.001, VEGF： P〈0.001）. The two indexes＇ levels in patients of different age or different sex had no significant difference （P〉0.05）. They were higher in LSCC with metastasis of lymph nodes than in patients without metastasis （Ki67： P=0.034, VEGF： P=0.006）. The expressions of the two genes elevated correspondingly along with the development of LSCC T stage （P〈0.05）. In addition, correlation analysis indicated that the expression of Ki67 had a positive correlation with VEGF in LSCC（r=0.823, P〈0.01）. Conclusion： Ki67 and VEGF are objective indexes for the biological behavior of LSCC, and they might be helpful to the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of laryngocarcinoma.     

X线立体定向放射治疗44例腹膜后转移癌近期疗效观察

Objective： To investigate the therapeutic effects of stereotactic radiotherapy for retroperitoneal metastatic tumor. Methods： From August 1997 to October 2004, 44 patients with retroperitoneal metastatic tumors were treated with stereotactic radiotherapy. The planning target volume was encompassed by 90%-95% isodose line. Fractional dose was from 6 Gy to 8 Gy, and they were treated 2-3 times per-week and 4-8 times in all. The total radiation doses of PTV were from 32 Gy to 48 Gy. Results： After the radiotherapy, the pain was obviously relieved in 81.8% patients. Three months after completion of radiotherapy passed and then, abdominal CT was performed to evaluate the results. The whole effective rate was 81.8% [CR 27.7% （12/44） and PR 54.5% （24/44）], and six months after radiotherapy, CR was 27.7% （12/44） and PR was 59.1% （26/44）. The middle survival time was 12 months. Conclusion： It is suggested that stereotactic radiotherapy for retroperitoneal metastatic tumor is a safe and effective method.     

Antitumor and antivascular effects of AC-7700, a combretastatin A-4 derivative,against rat liver cancer

Background. Unlike the many chemotherapeutic agents that do not effectively stop blood flow or induce necrosis in hepatocellular carcinoma, AC-7700 has been shown to inhibit tubulin polymerization and selectively stop tumor blood flow. The aim of this study was to elucidate the antivascular and antitumor effects of AC-7700 on rat hepatoma. Methods. AH-130 cells, a rat hepatoma cell line, were solidified and implanted into the liver of Donryu rats. Vascularity of the liver tumor was directly identified by in-vivo fluorescence microscopy from 0 to 60 min after the injection of 10 mg/kg AC-7700. To observe the antivascular effect of AC-7700, the vascular density of the tumor was measured and assessed as the ratio of preinjection to postinjection values. The antitumor effects were evaluated with histopathologic findings and analysis of animal survival. Results. In-vivo microscopic observation showed that tumor perfusion diminished within 30 min after AC-7700 administration. Vascular density in the AC-7700 group was significantly less than that in the control group at 60 min (AC-7700, 26.3 ± 16.4%; control, 88.5 ± 9.2%; P < 0.001). After AC-7700 injection, marked necrosis of tumor cells was observed histologically, and tumor area was decreased significantly (AC-7700, 11.5 ± 15.4 mm²; control, 43.5 ± 18.3 mm²; P < 0.05). The survival rate (50%) of the AC-7700 group animals was better than that of the control group (0%; P < 0.01). Conclusion. Markedly decreased tumor perfusion was induced by AC-7700 within 30 min, and this decrease may have contributed to the tumor necrosis and favorable outcome in the treatment group. AC-7700 appears to be a promising agent for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Received: September 14, 2001 / Accepted: February 21, 2002