A prospective study of isolated human hepatocyte function following liver resection for colorectal liver metastases: The effects of prior exposure to chemotherapy

• Published in: Journal of hepatology 2006-08, Vol.45 (2), p.263-270
• Main Authors: Hewes, James C., Riddy, Darren, Morris, Richard W., Woodrooffe, Amanda J., Davidson, Brian R., Fuller, Barry
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Colorectal Neoplasms - drug therapy; Colorectal Neoplasms - pathology; Colorectal Neoplasms - surgery; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Fluorouracil - therapeutic use; Follow-Up Studies; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Hepatectomy; Hepatocytes - drug effects; Hepatocytes - pathology; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents - therapeutic use; Isolated human hepatocytes; Liver cell culture; Liver Neoplasms - drug therapy; Liver Neoplasms - secondary; Liver Neoplasms - surgery; Liver, biliary tract, pancreas, portal circulation, spleen; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy; Organoplatinum Compounds - therapeutic use; Oxaliplatin; Prospective Studies; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the digestive system; Treatment Outcome; Tumor Cells, Cultured
• ISSN: 0168-8278; 1600-0641
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2006.02.015

Chemotherapy is increasingly used prior to resection of colorectal liver metastases, yet few studies have addressed its effect on the viability and function of hepatocytes. This study evaluated the effect of pre-operative chemotherapy on human hepatocytes. Studies were carried out on isolated hepatocytes from 47 patients undergoing hepatectomy for colorectal metastases. The function of drug metabolising enzymes in hepatocytes was assessed in vitro, as well as hepatocyte integrity and culture longevity. These results were compared between patients undergoing no pre-operative chemotherapy ( N = 8), 5 fluorouracil (5FU) post-bowel resection ( N = 20), and neo-adjuvant 5FU alone ( N = 7) or in a combination with oxaliplatin ( N = 12). Average cell viability at isolation determined by trypan blue dye exclusion was 71% with no significant difference between the no chemotherapy or pre-resection chemotherapy groups. There was no significant difference in LDH leakage and cellular ATP content over a 96-h time course between the patient treatment groups. The function of cytochromes P450 (CYP1A2, CYP2A6, CYP2C9, CYP2D6, CYP2E1, CYP3A4) and phase II enzymes (UDP-glucuronosyltransferase and sulphotransferase) was not adversely affected by pre-operative chemotherapy. Pre-resection chemotherapy does not impair the function or culture integrity of hepatocytes isolated at the time of liver resection.