Evaluation on factors influencing liver cancer metastasis after liver surgery by a mouse model

Objective: To evaluate the influence of surgical trauma on liver cancer metastasis. Methods: A mouse model of experimental liver cancer metastasis was established by subcapsule injecting hepatoma ascites tumor cells (H 22 ) into spleen of NIH mice. Simple intrasplenic inoculation, with sham operation, partial hepatectomy, total occlusion of hepatic blood inflow and blood loss and re-perfusion were performed and metastatic effects were observed. Results: There were significant higher metastasis-augmenting effects in sham operation and partial hepatectomy groups. Compared with no-blood transfusion, blood transfusion group was found to be potent to increase intrahepatic metastases. But, neither inhibition nor enhancement with total occlusion of hepatic blood inflow for 20 and 30 minutes was seen. Conclusions: Surgical trauma, especially partial hepatectomy and blood transfusion, are involved in enhancing metastasis, but total occlusion of hepatic blood inflow is not responsible for enhanced liver metastasis in the experimental metastasis model.