Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion promotes liver metastasis of colon cancer

Background. The effects of hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) on liver metastasis have not been fully examined. We examined hepatic I/R and liver metastasis of colorectal cancer in a rat model; we also quantitated expression of E-selectin (ELAM-1) mRNA after I/R. Materials and methods. Rats underwent 30 or 60 min of 70% partial hepatic ischemia. After 60 min of reperfusion, rat colon adenocarcinoma cells (RCN-H4) were inoculated intrasplenically. The number of tumor nodules on the liver surface was determined 3 weeks later. Expression of E-selectin mRNA was determined at 1, 3, and 6 h after ischemia by quantitative RT-PCR. Results. Hepatic I/R promoted liver metastasis of RCN-H4 and induced the expression of E-selectin mRNA in both clamped and unclamped liver lobes. The number of tumor nodules and the expression of E-selectin mRNA after 60 min of ischemia was greater than that after 30 min. Conclusions. Hepatic I/R, especially with a long duration of ischemia, induces expression of E-selectin and promotes liver metastasis of colon cancer in rats. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA).