Original Article
Copyright ©2010 Baishideng. All rights reserved
World J Gastroenterol. Aug 14, 2010; 16(30): 3816-3826
Published online Aug 14, 2010. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i30.3816
Portal vein ligation accelerates tumor growth in ligated, but not contralateral lobes
Nozomu Sakai, Callisia N Clarke, Rebecca Schuster, John Blanchard, Amit D Tevar, Michael J Edwards, Alex B Lentsch
Nozomu Sakai, Callisia N Clarke, Rebecca Schuster, John Blanchard, Amit D Tevar, Michael J Edwards, Alex B Lentsch, Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0558, United States
Author contributions: Sakai N performed the majority of experiments and data analysis; Clarke CN, Schuster R and Blanchard J performed the experiments; Sakai N, Edwards MJ, Tevar AD and Lentsch AB contributed to data analysis, manuscript preparation and editing.
Correspondence to: Alex B Lentsch, PhD, Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0558, United States. alex.lentsch@uc.edu
Telephone: +1-513-5588674 Fax: +1-513-5588677
Received: March 3, 2010
Revised: April 7, 2010
Accepted: April 14, 2010
Published online: August 14, 2010
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the mechanisms of liver growth and atrophy after portal vein ligation (PVL) and its effects on tumor growth.

METHODS: Mice were subjected to PVL, partial hepatectomy, or sham surgery. The morphological alterations, activation of transcription factors, and expression of cytokines and growth factors involved in liver regeneration were evaluated. In a separate set of experiments, murine colorectal carcinoma cells were injected via the portal vein and the effect of each operation on liver tumor growth was studied.

RESULTS: Liver regeneration after PVL and partial hepatectomy were very similar. In ligated lobes, various cytokines, transcription factors and regulatory factors were significantly upregulated compared to non-ligated lobes after PVL. Atrophy in ligated lobes was a result of early necrosis followed by later apoptosis. Tumor growth was significantly accelerated in ligated compared to non-ligated lobes.

CONCLUSION: Tumor growth was accelerated in ligated liver lobes and appeared to be a result of increased growth factor expression.

Keywords: Portal vein ligation, Tumor growth, Growth factor, Atrophy, Apoptosis