Partial hepatectomy augments the liver's antitumor response.

Despite adequate locoregional control, colorectal metastasis to the liver remains a significant cause of death. Resection of hepatic metastasis improves five-year survival 18% to 34%. A study of the impact of 40% partial hepatectomy on cytokine production in the liver was undertaken. Nonparenchymal liver cells (NPCs) were prepared by collagenase perfusion and metrizamide gradient from partially hepatectomized and laparotomized control C57BL/6Ros mice. Nonparenchymal cell from partially hepatectomized mice compared with laparotomized mice showed a twofold to threefold increase in interferon (IFN) activity. Both interferon alpha/beta and supernatants from cultured NPCs of partially hepatectomized mice suppressed the proliferation of liver-derived MCA-38 colon adenocarcinoma cells in vitro. This tumor has been shown to metastasize to the liver of C57BL/6Ros mice. The production of various cytokines by NPCs induced by partial hepatectomy may provide a possible antimetastatic mechanism.