ABSTRACT
Sections from 31 liver needle biopsies of hepatocellular carcinomas(HCCs) were exa-mined for the histological grading of tumors with the expression of a labelling index, using monoclonal antibodies to proliferating cell nuclear antigen PC-10. The correlation between histological grading and the labelling index showed a statistically significant increase in the labelling index in grades III to IV of HCCs. A cut-off point of the labelling index at 49 per cent was proposed to indicate the prognosis of the patient. HCCs with a labelling index below 49 per cent has a better prognosis than HCCs with a labelling index above 49 per cent. A combination of histological grading and the labelling index indicated the prognosis of the patients with HCCs.