CD95 and TNFα-induced apoptosis in liver metastases of colorectal carcinoma.

Background: Therapeutic options in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer are still limited. As apoptosis contributes to the overall sensitivity to radiotherapy or chemotherapy, a better understanding of the apoptotic process in metastatic tumour tissues is necessary.

Materials And Methods: Precision cut tissue slices (PCTS) of three human liver metastases were used to investigate the effect of activating CD95 antibodies (concentrations: 0.

COX-2 expression and effects of COX-2 inhibition in colorectal carcinomas and their liver metastases.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are known to reduce the risk and mortality from colorectal carcinoma by inhibiting cyclo-oxygenases (COX). COX-2 expression was investigated immunohistologically in 57 patients with colorectal carcinomas and in the corresponding liver metastases using tissue microarray analysis. Ex vivo COX-2 inhibition with assessment of apoptosis was performed using precision-cut tissue slices of three human liver metastases.

Cryopreservation of precision cut tissue slices (PCTS): investigation of morphology and reactivity.

Precision cut tissue slices (PCTS) represent a suitable and convenient tool for pharmacological, toxicological and morphological studies. Cryopreservation would enable to overcome the shortage of liver tissue, in particular in settings using human liver tissue. We investigated the potential of cryopreservation of porcine PCTS as a morphological tool by rapid freezing with 10% and 30% dimethyl sulfoxide as cryopreservation agents and with or without medium using a Brendel/Vitron tissue slicer.

Ex vivo analysis of antineoplastic agents in precision-cut tissue slices of human origin: effects of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Cultures of precision-cut tissue slices allow the investigation of substance effects on human tissues under in vivo-like conditions over a limited time span. We have adapted the model for direct analyses of antineoplastic substances on tumor tissues. We have recently demonstrated that selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors strongly suppress growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells in vitro and nude mouse HCC implants by inducing apoptosis and reducing proliferation.