Partial hepatectomy enhances growing of rat colorectal cancer cells CC531

Abstract Background Nowadays, partial hepatectomy (PHx) is the gold standard for the treatment of colorectal cancer liver metastases. After removing a substantial amount of hepatic tissue, however, growth factors are released to induce liver regeneration. These cytokines may promote the proliferation of liver micrometastases or circulating tumour cells still present in the patient. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of PHx on the growth of liver metastases after intrasplenic cell inoculation. Methods Liver tumours were induced in 18 WAG/RijHsd male rats, by seeding 250,000 syngeneic colorectal cancer cells (CC-531) into the spleen. Twenty-eight days after tumour induction, the animals were sacrificed and the liver was removed and sliced to assess the relative tumour surface area (RTSA%). Results The RTSA% was significantly higher in animals which had undergone PHx than the controls (not hepatectomised) (46.98 ± 8.76% vs. 18.73 ± 5.65%; p < 0.05). While no differences were observed in the right lateral lobe, in either hepatectomised or non-hepatectomised animals, there were significant differences in liver surface occupied by metastases in the paramedian and caudate lobes in both groups. Conclusion In this experimental model, the process of growth of colorectal cancer cells in the liver clearly accelerates following PHx.