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Colorectal cancer liver metastasis: genomic evolution and crosstalk with the liver microenvironment

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Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) patients frequently develop liver metastases, which are the major cause of cancer-related mortality. The molecular basis and management of colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs) remain a challenging clinical issue. Recent genomic evidence has demonstrated the liver tropism of CRC and the presence of a stricter evolutionary bottleneck in the liver as a target organ compared to lymph nodes. This bottleneck challenging CRC cells in the liver is organ-specific and requires adaptation not only at the genetic level, but also at the phenotypic level to crosstalk with the hepatic microenvironment. Here, we highlight the emerging evidence on the clonal evolution of CRLM and review recent insights into the molecular mechanisms orchestrating the bidirectional interactions between metastatic CRC cells and the unique liver microenvironment.

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Funding

This work was supported by (1) National Natural Science Foundation of China (82073246); (2) Sichuan Science and Technology Program (2022JDRC0049, 2022YFS0175); (3) 1.3.5 project for disciplines of excellence, West China Hospital, Sichuan University (ZYGD20006).

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  1. Qiu-Luo Liu and Huijie Zhou contributed equally to this work.

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  1. Department of General Surgery, Colorectal Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China

    Qiu-Luo Liu, Zong-Guang Zhou & Hai-Ning Chen

  2. Department of Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China

    Huijie Zhou

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Hai-Ning Chen and Zong-Guang Zhou designed the article, Qiu-Luo Liu and Huijie Zhou performed the literature search and drafted the work, Hai-Ning Chen and Zong-Guang Zhou revised the work.

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Liu, QL., Zhou, H., Zhou, ZG. et al. Colorectal cancer liver metastasis: genomic evolution and crosstalk with the liver microenvironment. Cancer Metastasis Rev 42, 575–587 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10555-023-10107-0

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