Experimental and clinical studies on the effect of liver regeneration on tumor growth

Colorectal cancer is the third commonest cancer in men, and the second commonest in women. The liver is a unique organ, in that, after removal or destruction of liver cell mass, it is able to restore liver tissue by a process, which is called regeneration. This restorative capacity is regulated by various growth factors and cytokines generated in the liver itself, but also by distant organs and tissues. Tumor cells, although behaving more autonomous than non-transformed cells, are also influenced by growth factors. The common role of growth factors in liver regeneration and tumor growth, led to the hypothesis that changes in serum growth factor levels, induced by partial hepatectomy, might also influence tumour growth of micrometastates. This hypothesis is tested in this thesis, using an experimental animal model and by analyzing serum growth factor levels and growth factor (receptor) expression on human colorectal liver metastases. ... Zie: Summary.