Prognostic importance of some clinical and therapeutic factors for the effect of portal vein embolization in patients with primarily inoperable colorectal liver metastases.

Introduction: Portal vein embolization (PVE) may increase the resectability of liver metastases. However, the problem of PVE is insufficient growth of the liver or tumor progression in some patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of commonly available clinical factors for the result of PVE.

Plasma TIMP1 level is a prognostic factor in patients with liver metastases.

Unlabelled: TIMP1 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1) regulates extracellular matrix turnover and also promotes cell growth and has anti-apoptotic activity, which promotes malignant processes in tumor tissue. The aim of our study was to evaluate the relation of plasma TIMP1 protein levels with prognosis in patients with liver metastases, with particular regard to possible early-prediction of recurrence of the disease.

Patients And Methods: We studied a group of 87 patients with metastatic liver disease (mostly from colorectal cancer) who underwent surgery for liver metastases, and assessed their preoperative plasma TIMP1 levels.

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha stimulates liver regeneration in porcine model of partial portal vein ligation.

Background/aims: Portal vein ligation (PVL) could multiply the future liver remnant volume (FLRV). Tumor necrosis factor- alpha (TNF-α) is a pleiotropic cytokine that is connected with initial phase of liver regeneration. The aim of this basic pilot study was to accelerate regeneration of liver parenchyma after PVL.

Prognostic value of the number and volume of liver tumours on portal vein embolization outcomes.

Background/aims: Portal vein embolization (PVE) extends the resecability of liver tumours.The issue of PVE is an insufficient growth of the liver parenchyma or a tumour progression in some patients. We evaluated the effect of the volume and the number of liver tumours on the effect of PVE.

Non-colorectal liver metastases: surgical treatment options.

Background/aims: Due to different biological characteristics of non-colorectal liver metastasizes (NCLM), surgical treatment, especially it´s long term results, is a topic of discussion. The aim of the study was to evaluate the single center experience with surgical treatment of NCLM.

Methodology: Seventy two patients were prospectively included.

Inhibition of transforming growth factor beta-1 augments liver regeneration after partial portal vein ligation in a porcine experimental model.

Background/aims: TGF-β1 is a pleiotropic cytokine that is over expressed in terminal phase of liver regeneration.

Methodology: Twenty-four hours after partial portal vein ligation monoclonal antibody against TGF-β1 (TGF-β1 group, 7 piglets) or physiological solution (control group, 9 piglets) were applied into the central venous catheter. The biochemical parameters (bilirubin, urea, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, gamma- glutamyl transferase, cholinesterase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and albumin) were assessed.

Effects of liver tumor and post-ablation necrosis volume on the result of radiofrequency ablation.

Background/aims: To find out whether the total tumor mass and post-ablation necrosis volume influence the disease-free survival of patients following radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

Methodology: Fifty nine patients with RFA of primary and secondary tumors were evaluated retrospectively in a four year period. Total liver mass, post-ablation necrosis volume and their ratio were evaluated using computed tomography examination in the relationship with the risk of insufficient tumor ablation and the disease-free patients survival.

New clinical scoring system for prognosis of early recurrence of colorectal liver metastases after surgical treatment.

Background/aims: To determine the relationship between the mRNA expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and CEA in tumour tissue and preoperative serum levels of these tumour markers in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CLM). Additionally, to establish a new scoring system based upon these results in combination with the volume of the metastatic process to identify patients with a high risk of early recurrence of CLM.

Methodology: The correlation between the mRNA expression of CEA, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, MMP-2 and MMP-9 in tissue samples and preoperative serum levels of the named tumour markers was performed on 27 patients.

Evaluation of tumour markers as differential diagnostic tool in patients with suspicion of liver metastases from breast cancer.

Aim: The liver is the site of breast cancer metastasis in 50% of patients with advanced disease. Tumour markers have been demonstrated as being useful in follow-up of patients with breast cancer, in early detection of recurrence of breast cancer after radical surgical treatments, and in assessing oncologic therapy effect, but no study has been carried out on their usefullness in distinguishing benign liver lesions from breast cancer metastases. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the importance of tumour markers carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen CA19-9 (CA19-9), thymidine kinase (TK), tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA), tissue polypeptide-specific antigen (TPS) and cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA 21-1) in differential diagnosis between benign liver lesions and liver metastases of breast cancer.

Predictive value of serum biomarkers in patients after portal vein embolization (PVE): a pilot study.

Background/aim: Insufficient growth of the liver or tumor progression is an important issue of portal vein embolization (PVE) in some patients. This study evaluated the predictive value of serum biomarkers for liver hypertrophy and tumor progression after PVE.

Patients And Methods: Serum levels of tumor markers, growth factors and cytokines were determined in 40 patients with malignant liver tumors in the pre- and post-PVE period.

Relevance of miR-21 and miR-143 expression in tissue samples of colorectal carcinoma and its liver metastases.

MicroRNAs, which are endogenously expressed regulatory noncoding RNAs, have an altered expression in colorectal cancer. The aim of our study was to assess the relationship of miR-21 and miR-143 expression to the prognostic/clinicopathological features of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) and colorectal liver metastases (CLM). The estimation was performed in 46 paired (tumor and control) tissue samples of CRC.

Interleukin-6 augments activation of liver regeneration in porcine model of partial portal vein ligation.

Background: Portal vein ligation (PVL) could multiply the future liver remnant volume (FLRV). Interuleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine that is associated with an initial phase of liver regeneration. The aim of this study was to accelerate the regeneration of liver parenchyma after PVL by intraportal cytokine application.

Recurrence of colorectal liver metastases after surgical treatment: multifactorial study.

Background/aims: The authors evaluated the significance of various factors regarding the recurrence of colorectal liver metastases (CLM) after liver resection or radiofrequency ablation.

Methodology: 82 patients were operated on for CLM at our department between 1998 and 2003. Radical surgery was performed in 58 patients (74.