Histopathological growth patterns of primary and secondary malignant liver tumors

Abstract

HGPs are a prognostic and predictive biomarker in patients with malignant liver tumors. They can be classified into desmoplastic HGP (dHGP), replacement HGP (rHGP) and pushing HGP (pHGP). The objective of this thesis was to describe the histopathological growth patterns (HGPs) of primary and secondary malignant liver tumors and to evaluate their association with prognosis after resection. The manuscript is structured in two parts. Part one serves as a general introduction into liver metastases and HGPs. Part two features multiple studies evaluating HGPs in liver metastases from various origins, primary liver tumors and in lung metastases.This manuscript illustrates that the HGPs can be identified in liver tumors, irrespective of specific tumor type, and that they are specific to the liver. This suggests an important role of the liver microenvironment in the underlying biology of HGPs.<br/