Whole genome sequencing discriminates hepatocellular carcinoma with intrahepatic metastasis from multi-centric tumors

Background & Aims Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have a high-risk of multi-centric (MC) tumor occurrence due to a strong carcinogenic background in the liver. In addition, they have a high risk of intrahepatic metastasis (IM). Liver tumors with IM or MC are profoundly different in their development and clinical outcome. However, clinically or pathologically discriminating between IM and MC can be challenging. This study investigated whether IM or MC could be diagnosed at the molecular level. Methods We performed whole genome and RNA sequencing analyses of 49 tumors including two extra-hepatic metastases, and one nodule-in-nodule tumor from 23 HCC patients. Results Sequencing-based molecular diagnosis using somatic single nucleotide variation information showed higher sensitivity compared to previous techniques due to the inclusion of a larger number of mutation events. This proved useful in cases, which showed inconsistent clinical diagnoses. In addition, whole genome sequencing offered advantages in profiling of other genetic alterations, such as structural variations, copy number alterations, and variant allele frequencies, and helped to confirm the IM/MC diagnosis. Divergent alterations between IM tumors with sorafenib treatment, long time-intervals, or tumor-in-tumor nodules indicated high intra-tumor heterogeneity, evolution, and clonal switching of liver cancers. Conclusions It is important to analyze the differences between IM tumors, in addition to IM/MC diagnosis, before selecting a therapeutic strategy for multiple tumors in the liver. Lay summary Whole genome sequencing of multiple liver tumors enabled the accurate diagnosis of multi-centric occurrence and intrahepatic metastasis using somatic single nucleotide variation information. In addition, genetic discrepancies between tumors help us to understand the physical changes during recurrence and cancer spread.