Macroscopic portal vein tumor thrombi of liver metastasis from colorectal cancer.
ABSTRACT We present a case of multiple colorectal liver metastases with macroscopic portal vein thrombi. A 55-year-old woman presented to us with rectosigmoid cancer and presented with two liver metastases. The tumor in the posterior sector was associated with invasion of first order branches of the portal vein. We performed low anterior resection, hepatic posterior sectorectomy and partial left anterior sectorectomy. Both the colorectal cancer and liver tumors exhibited histological characteristics of moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma with a substantial amount of mucin production. The liver metastases were associated with prominent tumor thrombi in many branches of the portal vein. Stronger staining for endoglin (CD 105) than for Fas ligand (Fas L) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2) was observed in both the colorectal cancer and metastatic liver tumor cells. Expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor within the tumor cells was seen in both the colorectal cancer as well as the metastatic liver tumor cells. Six months after the operation, she was diagnosed to have multiple, more than about 20 liver metastases, and in 9 months after the operation, the patient died. The colorectal cancer with liver metastases associated with portal vein tumor thrombosis was poor prognosis, found neoplastic microvessel formation.
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ABSTRACT: Metastatic lesions in the liver derived from colorectal cancer rarely invade the portal vein macroscopically. Portal vein tumor thrombus is commonly associated with hepatocellular carcinoma. Colorectal liver metastases are usually accompanied by microscopic tumor invasion into the intrahepatic portal vein, and the incidence of macroscopic tumor thrombus in the trunk of the portal vein is rare. Here, we provide unique appearance of metastatic colorectal cancer. To the best of our knowledge, macroscopically, the right portal vein filled with the tumor thrombus without any tumor in liver parenchyma has been quite rare.Rare tumors 10/2011; 3(4):e47.
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ABSTRACT: The patient was a male in his 70s with a history of chronic renal failure and dilated cardiomyopathy. In January 2011, he underwent abdominoperineal resection of the rectum, right hepatic lobectomy, and resection of a portal vein tumor thrombus with a diagnosis of rectal cancer and metastatic liver cancer accompanied by portal vein tumor thrombosis. Although 5-fluorouracil + l-leucovorin therapy (RPMI regimen) was carried out as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, the tumor marker (CEA and VA19-9) levels increased 8 months after surgery. Since the functions of major organs were impaired, UFT(®) + UZEL(®) therapy was started. The tumor marker levels decreased temporarily, but increased again 12 months after surgery, and so intravenous instillation of panitumumab was initiated. Nine administrations have been performed to date, with no increase in tumor marker levels or exacerbation of the condition. Also, no grade 2 or severer adverse event has been noted according to CTCAE v.4.0. The experience with this patient suggests the possibility that exacerbation of the condition of patients with liver metastasis of colorectal cancer accompanied by portal vein tumor thrombosis with abnormalities in the functions of major organs can be controlled temporarily by the administration of panitumumab alone.Case Reports in Oncology 05/2013; 6(2):275-9.
CASE REPORT OF INTEREST
Macroscopic portal vein tumor thrombi of liver metastasis
from colorectal cancer
Takuichi Oikawa Æ Æ Tadatoshi Takayama Æ Æ
Shunji Okada Æ Æ Tomohisa Kamo Æ Æ
Masahiko Sugitani Æ Æ Michiie Sakamoto
Received: 31 August 2007/Accepted: 27 November 2007/Published online: 16 December 2008
? Springer 2008
liver metastases with macroscopic portal vein thrombi.
A 55-year-old woman presented to us with rectosigmoid
the posterior sector was associated with invasion of first
resection, hepatic posterior sectorectomy and partial left
anterior sectorectomy. Both the colorectal cancer and liver
tumors exhibited histological characteristics of moderately
differentiated adenocarcinoma with a substantial amount of
prominent tumor thrombi in many branches of the portal
vein. Stronger staining for endoglin (CD 105) than for Fas
ligand (Fas L) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2) was
observed in both the colorectal cancer and metastatic liver
tumor cells. Expression of the vascular endothelial growth
factor within the tumor cells was seen in both the colorectal
after the operation, she was diagnosed to have multiple,
more than about 20 liver metastases, and in 9 months
after the operation, the patient died. The colorectal cancer
with liver metastases associated with portal vein tumor
We present a case of multiple colorectal
thrombosis was poor prognosis, found neoplastic micro-
Tumor thrombi in the portal vein ? Endoglin ?
Colorectal cancer ? Liver metastasis ?
Portal vein tumor thrombus is a common finding and a
significant negative prognostic indicator in hepatocellular
carcinoma . In patients with colorectal liver metastasis,
macroscopic portal vein thrombus is rare and has been
reported to occur in 2.8% of cases . Microscopic inva-
sion of the portal vein are reportedly present at rates of
22.5% . There are many risk factors for liver metastasis
in colorectal cancer with venous invasion [4–8]. However,
which factor is most important remains controversial.
In this paper, we report a surgical case of liver metas-
tasis from colorectal cancer with prominent portal vein
A 55-year-old woman was referred to us with the com-
plaint of constipation. Her serum CEA level was elevated
1,077 ng/ml (normal range, B2.5 ng/ml) and serum CA
19–9 level to 2,838 U/ml (normal range, B37 ng/ml).
Barium enema and colonoscopic examination revealed an
ulcerative infiltrating type (type 3) of rectosigmoid cancer.
Abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed two liver
metastases, one located in the posterior sector with tumor
thrombi in the portal vein and biliary invasion (Fig. 1), and
T. Oikawa ? T. Takayama (&) ? S. Okada ? T. Kamo
Department of Digestive Surgery,
Nihon University School of Medicine,
30-1 Oyaguchi kami-machi, Itabashi-ku,
Tokyo 173-8610, Japan
Department of Pathology,
Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
Department of Pathology,
Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Surg (2009) 16:90–93
the other in left lateral sector. Low anterior resection with
D3 lymphadenectomy and posterior sectorectomy and
partial left anterior sectorectomy were performed.
Macroscopic examination of the resected rectosigmoid
colon cancer revealed a type 3 tumor with severe venous
involvement. Histopathological examination revealed find-
ings consistent with mucinous moderately differentiated
adenocarcinoma, reaching the subserosal layer (a2), with
lymphatic duct involvement (ly2), severe venous involve-
ment (v3), and the presence of lymph node metastasis (n1).
The cut surface of the resected specimen of the liver dem-
onstrated a solid tumor in the posterior sector, which was
whitish in color and measured 10 9 8 cm in size with PV
sector measuring 3 9 2.5 cm in size, also associated with
portal vein tumor thrombi. The extirpated portal vein
thrombi consisted mainly of fibrous tissue, and proliferative
mucinous differentiated adenocarcinoma cells (Fig. 3).
Both the colorectal cancer and liver tumors showed positive
immunostaining for endoglin (CD 105), Fas ligand (Fas L)
and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2). Positive staining
for CD 105 was observed in the newly formed tumor
microvessels, with the staining for CD 105 being stronger
and more extensive than that for Fas L or MMP-2 (Fig. 4).
The postoperative course of the patient was uneventful,
and she was discharged from our hospital on day 15 after
the operation. We did not perform adjuvant chemotherapy,
because patient refused it. Six months after the operation,
she was diagnosed to have multiple, more than about 20
liver metastases, and in 9 months after the operation, the
We present a rare case of colorectal cancer with liver
metastases in which gross tumor thrombi were found in the
portal vein, indicative of a poor prognosis. Macroscopic
portal vein involvement is considered to be an indicator of
poor prognosis in patients with hepatic metastasis.
In this case, we thought that the mechanism of portal
tumor thrombus regard to influence angiogenesis, intrava-
sation of tumor cells, transportation by the circulation and
adhesive interaction with endothelial cells or extravasation
In this study, to study the influence of tumor angio-
genesis on the portal vein infiltration in cases of liver
metastasis, we conducted immunostaining for CD 105, Fas
L and MMP-2 in both specimens of the colorectal cancer
Fig. 1 Enhanced CT shows a low density mass located in the
posterior sector and a low-density area along the posterior portal tract.
Arrows indicate liver metastasis involved portal vein in direct
Fig. 2 Liver [S6/7] resected specimen (a). Macroscopic findings of
the resected posterior sectorectomy showing tumor thrombi in the
portal vein (b). Arrow indicates liver metastasis involved portal vein
in direct. The tumors measuring 10 9 8 cm
Fig. 3 Histological examination of the liver metastasis (H&E stain).
Microscopic findings in the resected posterior sector liver metastasis
showing tumor thrombi in many branches of the portal vein. Arrows
indicate liver metastasis involved portal vein in direct. [S6/7
J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Surg (2009) 16:90–9391
and of the liver tumors showing invasion of the portal vein
[4–6]. CD 105 has been shown to be a more useful marker
to identify proliferating endothelium involved in tumor
angiogenesis. CD 105 staining has been shown to have
prognostic significance, showing a positive correlation with
angiolymphatic invasion and metastasis to the lymph nodes
and liver . Both the colorectal cancer and liver tumors
associated with invasion of the portal vein showed strong
staining intensity for CD 105. There was a correlation
between the staining intensity for CD 105 and the presence
of a portal vein tumor thrombus. Liver metastasis from
colorectal cancer may show marked angiogenesis. In
hepatocellular carcinoma, the tumor microvessel density by
CD 105 immunostaining was significantly lower in larger
tumors, more aggressive tumors, as indicated by venous
infiltration, and tumors with advanced TNM stage .
Despite the recent advances in chemotherapy and other
treatment modalities, surgical resection is still gold stan-
dard for the treatment of liver metastases from colorectal
cancer [11, 12]. Tada et al., observed that precise diagnosis
of the tumor thrombus followed by anatomic major hepatic
resection is the key to curative treatment . Macroscopic
portal vein thrombus is not a contraindication for surgical
treatment if removed completely. Patients with synchro-
nous liver metastases from colorectal cancer should
undergo radical resection of the primary lesion and
simultaneous hepatectomy with an adequate tumor-free
margin as a standard surgical course. However, in patients
with four or more colorectal lymph node metastases, bio-
logical selection by neoadjuvant chemotherapy may be
more suitable .
In conclusion, although the principle of surgical resec-
tion for colorectal liver metastases is complete removal of
the tumor, indications for surgical resection remain con-
troversial. This case was poor prognosis with positive
correlation with proliferating neoplastic microvessels in
colorectal cancer and liver metastases.
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