Inflammatory models drastically alter tumor growth and the immune microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma.

ABSTRACT: Initiation and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is intimately associated with a chronically diseased liver tissue. This diseased liver tissue background is a drastically different microenvironment from the healthy liver, especially with regard to immune cell prevalence and presence of mediators of immune function. To better understand the consequences of liver disease on tumor growth and the interplay with its microenvironment, we utilized two standard methods of fibrosis induction and orthotopic implantation of tumors into the inflamed and fibrotic liver to mimic the liver condition in human HCC patients. Compared to non-diseased controls, tumor growth was significantly enhanced under fibrotic conditions. The immune cells that infiltrated the tumors were also drastically diff

SUBMITTER: Markowitz GJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4445464 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature