Impact of rapid hypertrophy of tourniquet associating liver partition and portal vein ligation in the tumor progression pathways compared to two stage hepatectomy in patients with colorectal liver metastases

Background: It is not known if the inflammatory phenomena related to highly accelerated regeneration activate any signaling pathways that are associated with a major stimulus to colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) disease in tourniquet associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (T-ALPPS) compared to two stage hepatectomy (TSH).Methods: Between January 2012 and April 2018, we prospectively performed biopsies from future liver remnant and deportalized lobe in CRLM patients undergoing T-ALPPS in both stages. Immunohisto-pathological analysis was performed on the above tissue samples and compared to biopsy samples from patients who underwent TSH for CRLM at our center between September 2000 and August 2011. Results: A total of 42 patients (20 TSH and 22 T-ALPPS) were included. There were no differences in the rates of recurrence, overall survival or any of the factors analyzed relating to tumor progression between stages 1 and 2. Regarding the anti-tumor effect, there was a significant reduction in the number of T-CD8 infiltrates in the second stage of TSH (12.5 vs. 5.5, p = 0.02). Conclusion: The results suggest that liver regeneration with T-ALPPS does not induce higher tumor progression or significant immunological changes in the tumor environment when compared to classical TSH.

Automated summary

The study suggests that liver regeneration with T-ALPPS does not lead to higher tumor progression or significant immunological changes in the tumor environment compared to classical TSH.