Cell survival curve for primary hepatic carcinoma cells and relationship between SF(2) of hepatic carcinoma cells and radiosensitivity.

Aim: To establish the cell survival curve for primary hepatic carcinoma cells and to study the relationship between SF(2) of primary hepatic carcinoma cells and radiosensitivity.

Methods: Hepatic carcinoma cells were cultured in vitro using 39 samples of hepatic carcinoma at stages II-IV. Twenty-nine samples were cultured successfully in the fifth generation cells. After these cells were radiated with different dosages, the cell survival ratio and SF(2) were calculated by clonogenic assay and SF(2) model respectively. The relationship between SF(2) and the clinical pathological feature was analyzed.

Results: Twenty-nine of thirty-nine samples were successfully cultured. After X-ray radiation of the fifth generation cells with 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 Gy, the cell survival rate was 41%, 36.5%, 31.0%, 26.8%, and 19%, respectively. There was a negative correlation between cell survival and irradiation dosage (r = -0.973, P<0.05). SF(2) ranged 0.28-0.78 and correlated with the clinical stage and pathological grade of hepatic carcinoma (P<0.05). There was a positive correlation between SF(2) and D0.5 (r = 0.773, P<0.05).

Conclusion: SF(2) correlates with the clinical stage and pathological grade of hepatic carcinoma and is a marker for predicting the radiosensitivity of hepatic carcinomas.