Clonal analysis has shown that hepatocellular carcinoma arises from a single cell. However,
the clonality of precancerous lesions and adjacent nonneoplastic tissues is not clear. We
analyzed a human androgen receptor locus to elucidate the clonal state of liver tissues
including post-hepatitic lesions associated with hepatocarcinogenesis. The analysis was
based on a restriction fragment length polymorphism involving an androgen receptor locus
on the X chromosome, taking advantage of physiologic random inactivation by methylation …