Liver metastasis is the primary contributor to the death of patients with colorectal cancer. Despite the overall success of current treatments including targeted therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy combinations in colorectal cancer patients, the prognosis of patients with liver metastasis remains poor. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of the tumour microenviron-ment and the crosstalk within that determines the fate of circulating tumour cells in distant organs. Understanding the interactions between liver resident cells and tumour cells colonising the liver opens new therapeutic windows for the successful treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. Here we discuss critical cellular interactions within the tumour microenvironment in primary tumours and in liver metastases that highlight potential therapeutic targets. We also discuss recent therapeutic advances for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.
Funding
The study was supported by the following grants and fellowship schemes: Cancer Council Victoria (1143036), Austin Medical Research Fund, La Trobe RFA Scheme, and the Victorian Cancer Agency (19014). Institutional funding from the Victorian State Government Operational Infrastructure Support Scheme and ONJCRI is acknowledged. R.S.D is supported by La Trobe University Full-Fee Research Scholarship and La Trobe University Postgraduate Research Scholarship.
History
Publication Date
2021-02-02
Journal
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Volume
22
Issue
4
Article Number
ARTN 2067
Pagination
(p. 1-18)
Publisher
MDPI
ISSN
1661-6596
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