原发性肝癌患者血清可溶性细胞间粘附分子-1的测定及其临床意义

目的：探讨血清可溶性细胞间粘附分子－1（sICAM-1)与原发性肝癌发展，转移，疗效及预后的关系。方法：采用ELISA法检测72例原发性肝癌患者治疗前后，12例良性肝肿瘤患者治疗前血清中sICAM-1的水平，再进行比较分析。结果：原发性肝癌患者血清sICAM-1水平高于正常对照组及良性肝肿瘤患者（P＜0．01），且与肿瘤直径，有无腹腔积液，有无肝外转移，临床分期及治疗效果有关。肿瘤越大，血清sICAM-1水平越高（P＜0．01），有腹腔积液者比无腹腔积液者高（P＜0．05），有肝外转移者比无肝外转移者高（P＜0．05），Ⅲ期患者比Ⅱ期者高，Ⅱ期者又比I期者高（P＜0．05或P＜0．01），治疗前比治疗后高（P＜0．01），而正常对照组与良性肝肿瘤患者血清sICAM-1水平无显著性差异（P＞0．05），结论：原发性肝癌患者血清siCAM-1水平在一定程序上可以反映肝癌发展，转移情况及治疗效果，有可能成为预测肝癌转移，复发及疗效的指标。     

外周血甲胎蛋白mRNA的检测及其临床意义

目的：寻找肝细胞癌微小转移的标志物。方法：用巢式反转录聚合酶链反应（Nested-RT-PCR）技术检测６５例肝细胞癌,２１例非肝癌的恶性肿瘤,22例慢性乙型肝炎或肝硬化患者及21例健康志愿者外周静脉血中的甲胎蛋白（AFP）mRNA,结果：AFR－mRNA在健康志愿者,非肝癌恶性肿瘤患者外周血中均为阴性,在肝细胞癌组外周血中AFR－mRNA的检出率（44／65,67．7％）明显高于慢性乙型肝炎或肝硬化组（2／22,9．1％,P＜0．01）。AFR－mRNA检出率与临床分期、门静脉癌栓、肝外转移显著相关。在12例血清AFP＜25μg/L的肝癌患者血中,7例（58．3％）可检出AFR－mRNA.结论：AFR－mRNA可作为血循环中有肝癌细胞或肝细胞的标志物,在肝癌患者,阳性预示有血源性转移的可能,并且AFR－mRNA对血清AFP阴性或低值的肝癌患者能起到补充诊断作用。     

SH2-B 在原发性肝癌中的表达及其分子机制研究

目的：分析接头蛋白 SH2-B 在原发性肝癌中的表达,探讨其在肝癌癌变中的分子机制。方法用免疫组织化学 SABC 法检测 SH2-B 在27例肝炎、29例肝硬化、47例肝癌患者组织中的表达。免疫荧光筛选低表达 SH2-B 的肝癌细胞 HepG2,设转染组（转染 pcDNA3．1-SH2-B 质粒）、空载体组（转染 pcDNA3．1空白载体）和对照组（未转染）。Western blotting 检测基因转染效率,MTT 法分析细胞增殖情况,集落形成试验分析其对细胞集落形成的影响,流式细胞术分析细胞周期变化。结果SH2-B 在肝癌患者组织中的表达阳性率为95．7％,明显高于肝硬化组的55．2％（χ2＝18．64,P ＜0．01）和肝炎组的25．9％（χ2＝40．01,P ＜0．01）。肝癌细胞 HepG2转染 pcDNA3．1-SH2-B 质粒后可获得SH2-B有效表达;培养48 h 后转染组肝癌 HepG2细胞平均吸光度（A）值为1．12±0．19,明显高于空载体组的0．45±0．11（t ＝－31．55,P ＜0．01）,提示 SH2-B 促进肝癌细胞增殖;转染组细胞集落数为166±14,明显高于空载体组的82±8（t ＝－20．33,P ＜0．01）和对照组的78±9（t ＝－19．64,P ＜0．01）,提示SH2-B 显著促进肝癌细胞 HepG2细胞集落形成;转染组 S 期细胞比例为（45．7±5．8）％,明显高于空载体组的（19．4±4．7）％（t ＝－20．33,P ＜0．01）和对照组的（20．5±5．1）％（t ＝－34．69,P ＜0．01）,提示 SH2-B 促进肝癌 HepG2细胞周期演进。结论SH2-B 在肝癌中高表达,可能通过促进人体内肝癌细胞的细胞周期演进、增殖及转化参与肝癌的癌变过程。     

CD44V9在胃癌组织中的表达及其临床意义

目的：探讨CD44V9在胃癌组织中的表达及其临床意义。方法：采用免疫组织化学S－P法，检测了60例胃癌、12例胃良性肿瘤和20例政党胃黏膜组织中CD44V9表达水平。结果：胃癌组CD44V9阳性表达率（55．0％）明显高于胃良性肿瘤组（16．7％）（P＜0．05）和正常组（0）（P＜0．01）；良性组（16．7％）高于正常组（0）（P＞0．05）。CD44V9阳性表达率，淋巴结转移组（84．0％）、浆膜浸润组（69．7％）、远处转移组（87．5％）分别显著高于无淋巴结转移组（34．3％）（P＜0．01）、无浆膜浸润组（37．0％）（P＜0．05）、无远处转移组（50．0％）（P＜0．05）。结论：CD44V9在胃癌的发生、发展及侵袭转移中可能起着重要作用，可以作为预测肿瘤转移潜能的指标。     

肝动脉埋泵化疗预防肝癌术后复发的作用

目的：探讨肝动脉埋泵灌注化疗对肝癌根治术后复发的预防作用。方法：287例肝癌行根治术后随机分4组，分别埋置肝动脉化疗泵组、门静脉化疗泵组、肝动脉门静脉双埋化疗泵组、对照组（未置泵组）。所有泵内化疗2年，并追踪观察其术后复发情况。结果：肝动脉埋泵化疗组患者其术后复发率明显低于门静脉埋泵化疗组和对照组（P＜0．01），与肝动脉门静脉双埋泵化疗组相比，差异无显著性（P＞0．05）。同时肝动脉埋泵化疗能明显提高肝癌根治术后的一、二、三年生存率。结论：肝动脉埋泵化疗能延长肝癌术后的生存期及降低术后复发率。经胃十二指肠动脉的肝动脉埋泵化疗是安全有效的。     

肝癌高发地区庚型肝炎病毒感染现状调查

目的：探讨启东地区肝癌高发人群的庚型肝炎病毒感染状况。方法：应用ELISA法检测了50例HBsAg慢性携带者、35例肝细胞癌（HCC）患者、50例临床肝炎患者和50例正常成人血清抗－HGV。结果：四组人群抗－HGV阳性率分别为4．00％、22．86％、10．00％和0，HCC组显著高于HBsAg（＋）组（P＜0．01）和正常成人组（P＜0．005）。HBsAg阳性组与阴性组相比、ALT异常组与正常组相比，抗－HGV阳性率均有显著差异（分别为11．21％和2．89％，P＜0．05；12．62％和2．44％，P＜0．22）。结论：启东地区HGV流行性与其它地区基本一致。HGV对肝脏有一定的损伤作用，但致病性可能较弱。     

肝癌亚临床转移灶及临床病理学意义的研究

目的：检测肝癌亚临床转移灶并探讨其临床病理学意义。方法：采用病理大切片技术检测55例肝癌手术切除村本瘤外肝实质内亚临床转移灶;LSAB（Labelled streptavidin-biotin）免疫组织化学染色检测肝癌微血管密度。结果：全组36例（65．5％）瘤外肝组织内存在亚临床转移灶。肝癌亚临床转移灶与年龄、性别、AFP浓度、Edmondson分级、HBsAg等无关（P＞0．05）。肿瘤无包膜或包膜不完整、大于3cm、微血管密度高者亚临床转移灶多见。亚临床转移灶距原发肿瘤边缘的最大距离超过1cm者为42．0％（15／36）,超过1．8cm者为8．0％（3／36）,最远者达3．5cm。有亚临床转移灶者术后复发率（69．4％）较无亚临床转移灶者（29．4％）高（P＜0．05）。有亚临床转移灶者术后1、2年生存率分别为72．2％和50．0％,无亚临床转移灶者分别为84．2％和57．9％,但两者之间的差别无统计学意义（P＞0．05）。有亚临床转移灶者术后1、2年无瘤生存率（52．8％,33．3％）较无亚临床转移灶者（94．7％,63．2％）低（P＜0．01）。结论：肝癌亚临床转移灶的发生率较高,肿瘤内丰富的新生微血管是肿瘤发生肝内亚临床转移的重要途径之一。病理大切片检测肝癌手术标本内亚临床转移灶可能是预测肝癌预后重要的病理学指标。     

核转录因子κB在膀胱癌中的表达及临床意义

背景与目的：实体癌（如乳腺癌,肝癌,胰腺癌）中的研究提示核转录因子κB的异常表达对血管生长,细胞周期相关基因进行调控,本研究探讨膀胱癌及非癌膀胱粘膜中核转录因子κB及其调控基因的表达差异及其临床意义。方法：30例膀胱癌和13例非癌膀胱粘膜共43例冰冻切片行免疫组织化学检测p50,p52,p65,c-Rel,RelB,IκBa的蛋白表达水平,免疫印迹检测5例配对样本的p65(NF-κB家族一个重要亚基）的蛋白表达,13例配对标本RP－TCR检测p50,p52,p65,c-Rel,RelB,IκBa,周期蛋白D1,白介素－8的mRNA水平。结果：在膀胱癌组织及非癌膀胱粘膜中均见到p50,p52,p65,c-Rel,RelB,IκBa ,周期蛋白D－,白介素－8的mRNA表达,但前者较后者明显为强（分别为P＜0．01,P＜0．05,P＜0．01,P＜0．05,P＜0．05;P＜0．05,P＜0．05）,膀胱癌中p50,P52.P65,c-Rel,RelB核着色也明显增加（分别为P＜0．01,P＜0．01,P＜0．01,P＜0．01,P＜0．01）。同时,免疫印迹证明在膀胱癌中p65,核转录因子κB一个重要亚基的表达增加,膀胱癌中淋巴结转移组与无淋巴结转移组相比,p52,p65,c-Rel等蛋白表达等级计分有显著差异（分别为P＜0．01,P＜0．01,P＜0．05）.结论：膀胱癌中NF－κB家族及其调控基因表达较正常膀胱粘膜明显更强,并可能与膀胱癌淋纠转移相关。     

癌症患者尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活物及其受体检测的临床意义

目的：探讨癌症患者血浆中尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活物（u-PA)及其受体（u-PAR)检测的临床意义。方法：采用ELISA法测定85例癌症患者血浆中u-PA和u-PAP水平，并与正常人进行比较。结果：肝癌、肺癌、大肠癌、胰腺癌和胃癌患者的血浆u-PA和u-PAR水平均同步升高，与对照组比较有显著性差异（P＜0．05或P＜0．01）；胃癌和肺癌患者u-PA和u-PAR水平在术后出现明显回落（P＜0．05或P＜0．01）,复发时又升高；胰腺癌有转移者明显高于无转移者（P＜0．05）；鼻咽癌仅有u-PAR水平高于对照组（P＜0．01）。结论：癌症患者血浆u-PA和u-PAR水平显著异常，可作为评估浸润转移和复发的参考指标。     

肝癌组织SOD、PCNA免疫组化定位观察

目的：探讨肝细胞癌与超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）及增殖细胞核抗原（PCNA）的关系。方法：对23例发性肝细胞性肝癌组织进行SOD及PCNA免疫组织化学研究（SP法）。结果：肝癌细胞的SOD标记阳性率和阳性程度高于癌旁肝组织及正常肝组织（P＜0．05）；PCNA标记阳性率和阳性程度明显高于癌旁肝组织及正常肝组织（P＜0．01），并且随癌细胞分化程度的降低而增强（P＜0．05）。结论 降低肝癌细胞中SOD的活性是抑制肝癌细胞生长的有效方法。     

肝癌合并肝动-静脉瘘DSA表现及其与门脉高压间的关系

目的：研究肝癌中肝动-静脉瘘的发病率、分型、发生部位以及与肝癌类型、肿瘤血供和门脉高压之间的关系。方法：110例选自我科1989—1999年间收治的经临床和影像资料证实的583例肝癌患者。均采用Seldinger技术行DSA检查证实为肝动-静脉瘘。其中男102例,女8例,年龄27—70岁,平均48．5岁。原发性肝癌103例,转移性肝癌7例（其中原发结肠癌3例,壶腹癌2例,胰腺癌1例,贲门癌1例）;合并腹水58例,上消化道出血31例。行纤维胃镜检查33例,上消化道钡餐检查30例。结果：肝癌中肝动-静脉瘘平均发生率为18．9％。肝动-静脉瘘多发生于多血供、巨块型、原发性肝癌（发生率分别为80．9％、62．7％、93．6％）。肝动-静脉瘘中103例为单纯型,占93．6％,表现为：肝动脉-门静脉瘘97例（88．2％）,肝动脉-肝静脉瘘4例,肝动脉-下腔静脉瘘2例。7例复杂型表现为：同时存在肝动脉-门静脉瘘、肝动脉-下腔静脉瘘3例,肝动脉-下腔静脉瘘、肝动脉-肝静脉瘘1例,先肝动脉-门静脉瘘,后肝动脉-下腔静脉瘘1例,先肝动脉-下腔静脉瘘、后肝动脉-门静脉瘘1例,3处肝动脉-门静脉瘘1例。按肝动-静脉瘘发生部位分型：周围型95例（86．4％）,中央型15例（13．6％）。上消化道钡餐和纤维胃镜对合并腹水和上消道出血病例的检查结果显示：纤维胃镜对食管静脉曲张的阳性检出率明显高于上消化道钡餐检查。结论：肝动-静脉瘘在肝癌中的发生率较高。其中原发性肝癌明显高于转移性肝癌。肝动-静脉瘘多发于巨块型、多血供肝癌,常提示病变的严重程度;肝动-门静脉瘘可能是中晚期肝癌顽固性门脉高压的重要原因之一。肝动-静脉瘘引起的门脉高压中,临床表现腹水为主,出血次之。纤维胃镜对食管静脉曲张的阳性检出率明显高于上消化道钡餐检查。DSA应做为合并门脉高压肝癌患者的常规检查。肝动脉栓塞可阻断肝动-静脉瘘,缓解门脉高压所致腹水和上消化道出血,并减少通过静脉分流引起的远处转移。     

原发性肝癌患者手术前后入肝血流量的观察

作者用Ｂ超多普勒复合装置测定了６２例肝癌患者手术前后的入肝血流量。结果：①无门脉主干癌栓的肝癌患者术前肝固有动脉血流量和门静脉血流量均大于对照组；②肝固有动脉结扎加栓塞术后，门静脉血流量增加；③右半肝切除术后肝固有动脉血流量的减少较肝右动脉结扎加栓塞术后更为明显；④门静脉主干癌栓经治疗（肝动脉和门静脉灌注化疗）缩小后，门静脉血流量增加，肝固有动脉血流量减少；⑤门静脉血流增加的量与肝固有动脉血流量减     

Prognostic significance of intrahepatic lymphatic invasion in patients with hepatic resection due to metastases from colorectal carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Intrahepatic spread from liver metastases of colorectal carcinoma has been well described; however, its prognostic value after hepatectomy is controversial. To clearly determine factors predicting survival after hepatectomy in such patients, the authors evaluated 14 clinicopathologic factors of liver metastasis from colorectal carcinoma with special reference to intrahepatic lymphatic invasion. METHODS: The authors retrospectively analyzed data obtained from 67 consecutive patients who underwent hepatectomy for liver metastasis from colorectal carcinoma. Intrahepatic spread was classified into discreet categories that were evaluated separately: invasion to the portal vein, hepatic vein, bile duct, and lymphatic or perineural space. Overall survival and disease free survival periods were examined as functions of clinicopathologic determinants by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Intrahepatic spread was found in a total of 28 (43.1%) of the 65 evaluable cases. Portal vein invasion was found in 15 (23.1%) of these cases, hepatic vein invasion in 3 (4.6%), bile duct invasion in 10 (15.4%), and intrahepatic lymphatic invasion in 10 (15.4%). Five year overall and disease free survival rates after hepatectomy were 33.4% and 28.5%, respectively. A short interval (< 12 months) from treatment of primary colorectal carcinoma to liver metastasis and the presence of intrahepatic lymphatic invasion significantly and adversely affected the overall and disease free survival rates. CONCLUSIONS: Intrahepatic lymphatic invasion was shown statistically to be an independent predictor of recurrence and death after hepatectomy in patients with liver metastases from primary colorectal carcinoma.     

小鼠结肠癌肝转移前肝脏Th1/Th2细胞因子的变化及与门静脉IL-10、TGF-β1的相关性

目的 探讨在小鼠结肠癌肝转移发生之前,门静脉中的肿瘤可溶性产物IL-10、TGF-β1水平与肝脏Th1/Th2细胞因子的变化情况及其相关性.方法 20只BALB/c小鼠随机分为两组:盲肠肿瘤块(CT26细胞)种植法建立原位结肠癌肝转移模型为试验组,对照组为假手术组.2周后提取门静脉血及肝脏标本,ELISA方法检测门静脉血IL-10、TGF-β1及肝脏组织IFN-γ、IL-110浓度,比较两组间差异并计算相关性.结果 实验组小鼠肝脏Th1/Th2(IFN-γ/IL-10)比值较对照组降低,且与门静脉IL-10和TGF-β1的浓度呈显著负相关.结论 小鼠结肠肿瘤可释放IL-10、TGF-β1入门静脉,导致肝脏Th1/Th2样细胞因子(IFN-γ/IL-10)出现漂移现象,可能会促进肝转移的发生.     

双泵化疗在大肠癌肝转移中的应用

目的 探讨肝动脉加门静脉灌注化疗（双泵化疗）在大肠癌肝转移中的价值。方法 30例大肠癌肝转移患者术后2周开始接受灌注化疗。其中采用双泵化疗（I组）12例,肝动脉灌注化疗（Ⅱ组）10例,门静脉灌注化疗（Ⅲ组）8例。3组化疗方案的剂量频次均相同。结果 肝转移灶治疗有效率（CR＋PR）Ⅰ组为66．7％,Ⅱ组为60．0％,Ⅲ组为37．5％。0．5,1,2年生存率I组分别为100．0％、75．0％、41．7％;Ⅱ组为90．0％、60．0％、30．0％;Ⅲ组为87．5％、50．0％、25．0％。结论 双泵灌注化疗是大肠癌肝转移治疗和预防的一种有效辅助手段,其疗效优于单纯肝动脉灌注化疗或门静脉灌注化疗。     

The effect of vasopressin and hepatic artery ligation on the blood supply to normal and metastatic liver tissue

The effect of low (0.08 microU g-1 body wt min-1) and high (0.16 microU g-1 body wt min-1) rates of vasopressin infusion on blood flow to normal liver tissue and to liver metastases derived from azoxymethane induced colorectal carcinomas was studied in 36 male Wistar rats. Portal venous flow was measured by electromagnetic flowmetry and blood flow to normal and metastatic liver tissue by the clearance of xenon-133 injected directly into the liver parenchyma or metastasis. The low rate of vasopressin infusion decreased portal venous flow but increased blood flow to normal and metastatic liver tissue while at the higher rate of infusion these effects were reversed. Hepatic artery ligation (HAL) immediately following a low rate of vasopressin infusion abolished the observed increase in blood flow to both normal liver tissue and metastases. HAL immediately following the higher rate of vasopressin infusion further reduced blood flow to metastases but did not further alter blood flow to normal liver tissue. HAL prior to the infusion of the vasoactive drug significantly reduced blood flow to metastatic liver tissue, increased portal venous flow and was without effect on blood flow to normal liver tissue. Following HAL, blood flow to metastatic liver tissue was not further altered by either the low or high rates of vasopressin infusion. However, blood flow to normal liver tissue after HAL was reduced by a low rate of infusion of vasopressin and increased by the higher rate of infusion. The results of this study indicate that blood flow to normal or metastatic liver tissue can be increased or decreased by differential rates of infusion of vasopressin. These observations may have important implications in the treatment of liver metastases in man where different rates of vasopressin infusion may potentiate the effects of hepatic artery ligation or cytotoxic therapy.     

Scanning electron microscopy study of the blood supply of human colorectal liver metastases

AIMS: The failure of hepatic artery directed treatment of colorectal liver metastases may reflect a major portal venous contribution to tumour blood supply. This study provides ultrastructural details of the blood supply of colorectal liver metastases and their association with the portal vein and hepatic artery. METHODS: Resected liver specimens from six patients with colorectal liver metastases were examined by histology and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), following vascular resin casting. RESULTS: Nine metastatic colorectal adenocarcinomas were identified. The main feature of all tumours on SEM was direct communication between hepatic sinusoids and tumour vessels. A direct portal venous connection with tumour vessels was observed in a single specimen, whilst a direct arteriole connection was not identified. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that both the hepatic artery and portal vein contribute to the blood supply of colorectal liver metastases through sinusoidal connections with tumour specific blood vessels. SEM provides useful additional information on the morphological features of tumour vasculature.     

Significance of duplex/colour Doppler sonography in hepatic arterial chemotherapy for patients with liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma.

AIMS: The aim of the study was to evaluate the importance of duplex/colour Doppler ultrasound in a protocol of hepatic regional chemotherapy, by measuring the blood flow in the hepatic artery, portal vein, hepatic veins, and inferior caval vein of patients with unresectable liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma. METHODS: Thirty-nine consecutive subjects were selected for this study, including 21 patients who had unresectable histologically confirmed liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma (Group A), and 18 asymptomatic volunteers as normal controls (Group B). All subjects of Groups A and B were examined using duplex/colour Doppler sonography. After the ultrasound study, all patients of Group A were submitted to the administration of high dose mitomycin C into the hepatic artery, with concomitant detoxication of post-hepatic venous blood. RESULTS: The mean value of the hepatic artery blood flow was significantly higher (P=0.0009) in liver metastases patients (361 ml/min, SEM=24 ml/min) than in normal controls (245 ml/min, SEM=20 ml/min). Also, the mean Doppler perfusion index was higher in liver metastases patients than in normal controls. For each patient of Group A, the total dose of mitomycin C to be infused was calculated based on the blood flow in the hepatic artery. In this way the concentration of mitomycin C in the hepatic artery was always greater than 3 microg/ml. The duration of detoxication was calculated based on the blood flow in the inferior caval vein. For two patients only, the blood flow was lower than 1000 ml/min, with the necessity to protract the duration of detoxication over 2 hours. CONCLUSIONS: The measurement of the blood flow in hepatic vessels of patients with liver metastases seems to be very important in establishing the total dose of drug which has to be infused in hepatic arterial chemotherapy, and to determine the duration of concomitant detoxication of post-hepatic venous blood.     

卡培他滨片联合介入治疗大肠癌肝转移疗效分析

目的:观察口服卡培他滨片联合介入治疗大肠癌肝转移的疗效。方法:选择我院2010年1月-2010年10月76例大肠癌肝转移患者,采用隐匿数字随机法分为两组,对照组38例患者先行肝总动脉和腹腔干动脉造影,根据造影提示行肝动脉灌注化疗和栓塞,研究组38例患者在此基础上联合卡培他滨片口服,比较两组近、远期疗效。结果:研究组RR率为50.00%,对照组RR率为26.32%(P＜0.05)。研究组血流信号改善情况优于对照组(P＜0.05)。研究组患者12个月、24个月、48个月生存率分别为86.84%、65.79%、34.21%,均高于对照组(P＜0.05)。根据富血供与乏血供分为4个亚组,富血供患者疗效明显好于乏血供患者,富血供患者生存期明显长于乏血供患者(P＜0.05)。两组均无严重不良反应病例(P＞0.05)。结论:介入治疗联合卡培他滨片口服可显著延长大肠癌肝转移患者的生存期,值得临床采用。     

Changes in hepatic blood flow during regional hyperthermia

The influence of liver hyperthermia on hepatic arterial and portal venous blood flow to tumour and normal hepatic tissue was examined in a rabbit VX2 tumour model. Hyperthermia was delivered by 2450 MHz microwave generator to exteriorized livers in 18 rabbits. Blood flow was measured in both portal vein and hepatic artery using radioactive tracer microspheres before, during and 5 min after intense (greater than 43 degrees C) hyperthermia. During hyperthermia a decrease in total liver blood flow was composed primarily of a decrease in hepatic arterial blood flow to tumour tissue. Tumours were supplied almost exclusively by the hepatic artery and thus total tumour blood flow was significantly depressed during heating. The decreased tumour blood flow persisted after the cessation of hyperthermia and was indicative of vascular collapse in the tumour tissue. Temperature differentials in tumour compared to normal tissue ranged from 5 degrees C to 8 degrees C during hyperthermia because of the lower tumour blood flow. The portal vein exerted minimal influence on temperatures attained in the tumour tissue during hyperthermia but would have mediated normal liver tissue heat loss.