Natural history of hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer - pathobiological pathways with clinical significance

Figure 5 The role of Kupffer cells in colorectal cell adhesion-arrest within the sinusoids during haematogenous liver metastases. Kupffer cells are activated through carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), release multiple chemokines and stimulate sinusoidal endothelial cells to express adhesion molecules, inducing colorectal cancer cell arrest. CEA-R: CEA receptor; ICAM-1: Intercellular adhesion molecule 1; IL: Interleukin; sLE: Sialyl Lewis antigen; TNF-α: Tumour necrosis factor alpha; VCAM-1: Vascular cell adhesion molecule 1.