Liver metastases: Microenvironments and ex-vivo models

Area of Science:

• Hepatobiliary science
• Cancer metastasis research
• Biomaterials and tissue engineering

Background:

• The liver is a primary site for metastasis due to its unique biology and microenvironment.
• Studying liver metastasis seeding and early cell interactions is challenging with traditional methods.
• Disseminated tumor cells interact bidirectionally with liver cells like hepatocytes and Kupffer cells.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the potential of microphysiological systems (MPS) for studying liver metastasis.
• To highlight the role of hepatic MPS in understanding tumor cell dormancy versus outgrowth.
• To evaluate hepatic MPS for drug efficacy, metabolism, and toxicity studies in liver metastases.

Main Methods:

• Review of current ex vivo hepatic microphysiological systems (MPS).
• Focus on tissue-engineered constructs mimicking liver architecture and function.
• Assessment of MPS for recapitulating human-specific cell interactions in metastasis.

Main Results:

• Hepatic MPS offer a promising platform for studying liver metastasis.
• Current MPS can model liver structure, function, and cell interactions.
• One validated MPS model exists for liver metastasis, with more anticipated.

Conclusions:

• Hepatic MPS are valuable tools for understanding liver metastasis mechanisms.
• These systems can advance the study of tumor cell dormancy and outgrowth.
• Hepatic MPS facilitate comprehensive evaluation of anti-cancer therapeutics, including efficacy and toxicity.