Lipiodol uptake and retention by human hepatoma cells.

Lipodol has important diagnostic and therapeutic uses in hepatoma. However, the mechanisms of its selective, prolonged retention in hepatoma cells is not well understood. Therefore, using oil-red O, light and electron microscopy and neutron activation analysis we have determined that HepG2 cells are characterized by lipiodol deposition and emulsification on the cell surface, action uptake of lipodol by endocytosis, and prolonged intracellular retention. These findings may have major clinical significance in the development of a new treatment for hepatoma patients.