Lennart Wiman (photographer) is acknowledged for excellent video recording.

Patients provided&#160;written&#160;informed consent and the study was approved by the Regional Ethical Review Board at the University of Gothenburg.
1. Anesthesia
<ol>
	<li>Set up all the monitoring (ECG, blood pressure cuff) 17.</li>
	<li>Insert an epidural catheter in the lower to mid thoracic level 17.</li>
	<li>Induce anesthesia with Propofol 2 mg/kg, 150 &#181;g of Fentanyl, and Rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg through a previously inserted peripheral venous catheter.</li>
	<li>Preoxygenate and intubate the patient. Maintain anesthesia with Sevoflurane, oxygen and air 17.</li>
	<li>Insert a double lumen central venous catheter and an arterial catheter. Monitor CVP and arterial pressure 17.</li>
</ol>
2. Isolation of the Liver and Cannulation of Vessels
<ol>
	<li>Administer 100 IE/kg of heparin and give antibiotic prophylaxis (e.g., 160 mg of Trimethoprim and 800 mg of Sulfamethoxazole).</li>
	<li>Using the percutaneous Seldinger technique, place a 17 Fr catheter in the femoral vein and a 15 Fr catheter in the external jugular vein 18. Verify the positions of the catheters by fluoroscopy.</li>
	<li>Perform a laparotomy by an L-shaped incision from the xiphoid process down the midline and then extended to a right subcostal incision 19.</li>
	<li>Verify that no extra-hepatic metastases exist in the abdomen by a complete inspection and palpation.
	<ol>
		<li>If any suspicious lesions are found, verify malignancy by frozen section.</li>
		<li>Terminate the procedure if there is evidence of extrahepatic manifestation (periaortal adenopathy, abdominal metastases). Lymphadenopathy in the porta hepatis is not considered a contraindication.&#160;</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Mobilize the liver by dividing the falciform ligament, the left and right triangular ligament and the coronary ligament 19.</li>
	<li>Dissect the caval vein beginning from the renal veins up to the diaphragm with ligation of retroperitoneal tributary veins.</li>
	<li>Identify the right adrenal vein and place a vessel loop around it.</li>
	<li>Identify the right gonadal vein. Dissect it for 5-10 cm. Place a purse-string suture around the entrance to the caval vein.
	<ol>
		<li>Place a ligature distally on the gonadal vein. Using scissors, open the gonadal vein 3-5 cm from the caval vein.</li>
		<li>Insert an 18 Fr wire-reinforced catheter through the right gonadal vein and place the tip retrohepatically above the renal veins.</li>
		<li>Place a ligature around the gonadal vein to secure the position of the catheter.</li>
		<li>Verify the return of blood through the catheter. Heparinize the catheter 18.&#160;</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Dissect the hepatoduodenal ligament and visualize the common hepatic artery, the gastroduodenal artery and the proper hepatic artery.
	<ol>
		<li>Place vessel loops around the common hepatic artery and the gastrodoudenal artery.</li>
		<li>Dissect the portal vein and place a vessel loop around it.</li>
		<li>Isolate the rest of the ligament containing the common bile duct and include all of this in a vessel loop.&#160;</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Lift the gastroduodenal artery with the vessel loop. After interrupting the arterial inflow, make an incision using scissors.
	<ol>
		<li>Insert an 8-12 Fr catheter with its tip into the proper hepatic artery. Secure the position with a ligature around the gastroduodenal artery.</li>
		<li>Verify blood return in the catheter and then heparinize it 18.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Prime the perfusion system with one unit of packed erythrocytes, 100 ml of albumin (50 g/L), 100 ml of Tribonat (sodium bicarbonate), 2500 units of heparin (5,000 IE/ml) and 250 ml of crystalloids.</li>
	<li>Connect the arterial and the caval vein catheters to the perfusion system consisting of a heart lung machine equipped with a roller pump and a heater together with a venous reservoir, oxygenator and tubing systems of disposable type.</li>
	<li>Connect the femoral and external jugular catheters to the venovenous bypass pump consisting of a centrifugal pump, along with a heater unit and start bypass.</li>
	<li>Complete the isolation of the liver by tightening a Rumel tourniquet around the caval vein infrahepatically above the renal veins and clamping the caval vein suprahepatically using a Klintmalm vascular clamp.
	<ol>
		<li>Tighten a Rumel tourniquet around the common bile duct, the portal vein and the right adrenal vein and finally clamp the hepatic artery using a vascular clamp.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
3. The Perfusion
<ol>
	<li>Start the perfusion and manually monitor the blood level in the venous reservoir. Adjust the flow rate until a steady-state level is reached, usually a flow rate between 500-1,200 ml/min.</li>
	<li>Place thermistor probes into the right and left liver lobes and one directly into the arterial catheter.</li>
	<li>Heat the perfusate aiming at a target liver temperature of 40 oC. Keep this temperature throughout the perfusion.</li>
	<li>Place a scintillation probe over the venovenous bypass pump head.</li>
	<li>Calibrate the leakage monitoring system, by injecting a small dose of 10 MBq 99mTc-albumin (1 ml) into the systemic circulation and register the baseline activity.
	<ol>
		<li>Inject a ten-fold higher dose, 100 MBq 99mTc-albumin (1 ml), into the hepatic perfusion unit.</li>
		<li>Record any leakage from the perfusion system to the systemic circulation as an increase in activity measured by the scintillation probe.</li>
		<li>Record any leakage from the systemic circulation to the perfusion system as an increase in volume in the venous reservoir.&#160;</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>When steady-state of the flow rate is established, no leakage is present and the liver temperature has reached 40 &#176;C, inject melphalan at a dose of 1 mg/kg bodyweight into the perfusion system divided into two doses given 30 min apart.</li>
</ol>
4. End the Perfusion and Remove Catheters
<ol>
	<li>After 60 min of perfusion, empty the perfusate from the system and irrigate the liver with 1,000 ml of crystalloid.</li>
	<li>Add one unit of packed erythrocytes to the perfusion unit, infuse into the liver and then stop the perfusion.</li>
	<li>Release the Klintmalm clamp and the Rumel tourniquet from the caval vein.</li>
	<li>Release the Rumel tourniquet from the hepatoduodenal ligament.</li>
	<li>Remove the ligature from the gastroduodenal artery. Remove the catheter and ligate the vessel.</li>
	<li>Release the clamp from the hepatic artery.</li>
	<li>Remove the catheter from the gonadal vein and ligate the vessel.</li>
	<li>Stop the veno-venous bypass pump and disconnect the tubes.</li>
	<li>Close the abdomen with an uninterrupted fascial suture and then an intracutaneous skin suture.</li>
	<li>Remove the catheters in the femoral and external jugular veins and apply local pressure for 5 min.</li>
</ol>
5. Postoperative Care
<ol>
	<li>Extubate the patient and transfer to postoperative care unit for 24 hr. Keep monitoring central venous pressure and arterial blood pressure.</li>
	<li>Transfer the patient to a surgical department for a typical of 3-7 days of post-operative care.</li>
	<li>Continue with low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) at a dose of 5,000 IE/day for a total of 4 weeks.</li>
</ol>

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The authors have nothing to disclose.

Patients with metastatic uveal melanoma have few therapeutic options. Chemotherapy 6, immunotherapy 23 and targeted therapy 24 have not been able to show improved OS. For patients with few liver metastases, liver resection is an option 12. Other treatments include hepatic intra-arterial chemotherapy (HIA) 9, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) 25 and selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) 26.
IHP is a major an...

Uveal melanoma is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults, with the incidence being highest in Caucasian populations 1. Local treatment consists of enucleation or local plaque radiation therapy 2,3. Irrespective of local treatment, metastatic disease will ultimately develop in about 35-50% of the patients 4,5. The liver is the most common site of metastases and approximately 50% of the patients present with isolated liver metastases. The median overall survival (OS) for patients with liver metastases is 6-12 months 4. Several different systemic and regional treatment strategies have been explored, but survival rates have not improved 2.
Treatment with systemic chemotherapy, both single substance (Dacarbazine or Temozolomide6) or combination treatments (BOLD regimen7, gemcitabine with treosulfan 8), shows response rates of less then 10 %. Hepatic intra-arterial chemotherapy (HIA) has shown a slightly higher overall response rate compared to systemic chemotherapy, but no increase in overall survival 9. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with cisplatin and carboplatin showed a partial response in 57% of patients with a median survival of 9 months10. Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) has shown a partial response in 62% of patients with a median survival of 7 months 11. In a study on liver resection, including 255 patients, an overall survival of 14 months was reported; in 76 of the patients where a microscopically complete resection was possible, the survival was 27 months 12.
Isolated hepatic perfusion (IHP) is a regional treatment option, originally developed by Ryan and Ausman. The rationale behind the technique is to surgically isolate and perfuse the liver with a high dose of a chemotherapeutic agent while avoiding systemic toxicity 13. In addition, concurrent hyperthermia mediates an increased uptake of the chemotherapeutic agent by changes in tumor blood flow and cellular membrane permeability 14. Complete vascular isolation is confirmed with a radioactive tracer technique using Tc-99 labeled human serum albumin 15. A retrospective phase II study has shown a potential survival benefit of 14 months (26 vs. 12 months) for patients that underwent IHP compared to the longest survivors with uveal melanoma liver metastases in Sweden 16.
Here we present the technique of IHP with a short review of current results and future perspectives.

<table><tbody><tr><td>Wire re-inforced catethers</td><td>Medtronic Inc, Minnesota, USA</td><td></td><td>12-18Fr</td></tr><tr><td>St&amp;ouml;ckert S5</td><td>Sorin Group, Mirandola, Italy</td><td></td><td>Heart-lung machine</td></tr><tr><td>Rotaflow</td><td>Maquet, Jostra Medizintechnik AG, Hirrlingen, Germany</td><td></td><td>Centrifugal pump</td></tr><tr><td>HU 35</td><td>Maquet cardiopulmonary AG, Hirrlingen, Germany</td><td></td><td>Heater unit</td></tr><tr><td>Flexbumin 200 g/l</td><td>Baxter Medical AB, Kista, Sweden</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Tribonat</td><td>Fresenius Kabi AB, Uppsala, Sweden</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Heparin LEO, 5000 IE/ml</td><td>LEO Pharma AB, Sweden</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Ringer Acetate</td><td>Baxter Medical AB, Kista, Sweden</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Vasculosis</td><td>Cis-Bio International, Gif-Sur-Yvette, France</td><td></td><td>99mTc-albumin</td></tr><tr><td>MedicView</td><td>SystemData AB, Gothenburg, Sweden</td><td></td><td>Leakage monitoring system</td></tr><tr><td>Alkeran</td><td>Aspen Europe GmbH, Bad Oldesloe, Germany</td><td></td><td>melphalan</td></tr></tbody></table>

isolated hepatic perfusion as a treatment for liver metastases of uveal melanoma

Isolated hepatic perfusion (IHP) is a procedure where the liver is surgically isolated and perfused with a high concentration of the chemotherapeutic agent melphalan. Briefly, the procedure starts with the setup of a percutaneous veno-venous bypass from the femoral vein to the external jugular vein. Via a laparotomy, catheters are then inserted into the proper hepatic artery and the caval vein. The portal vein and the caval vein, both supra- and infrahepatically, are then clamped. The arterial and venous catheters are connected to a heart lung machine and the liver is perfused with melphalan (1 mg/kg body weight) for 60 min. This way it is possible to locally perfuse the liver with a high dose of a chemotherapeutic agent, without leakage to the systemic circulation.
In previous studies including patients with isolated liver metastases of uveal melanoma, an overall response rate of 33-100% and a median survival between 9 and 13 months, have been reported. The aim of this protocol is to give a clear description of how to perform the procedure and to discuss IHP as a treatment option for liver metastases of uveal melanoma.

An initial report included 22 patients treated with melphalan with or without TNF-alpha. The results showed an overall response rate of 62%, including two patients with CR (10%), and a median overall survival of 11 months 20. A subsequent study reported on the outcome of 29 consecutive patients treated using melphalan alone. The outcome was very similar with a 62% overall response including 10% complete response and a median survival of 12 months 21.
In a study by Rizell ...

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Isolated Hepatic Perfusion as a Treatment for Liver Metastases of Uveal Melanoma

Here, we present a protocol how to perform an isolated liver perfusion (IHP) with melphalan and we also discuss IHP as a treatment option for liver metastases of uveal melanoma.

Isolated hepatic perfusion (IHP) is a procedure where the liver is surgically isolated and perfused with a high concentration of the chemotherapeutic ...

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Universidad de Cartagena UDEC

Research

JoVE Journal

Medicine

13.3K Views.  Institute of Clinical Sciences. Here, we present a protocol how to perform an isolated liver perfusion (IHP) with melphalan and we also discuss IHP as a treatment option for liver metastases of uveal melanoma.

Video: Isolated Hepatic Perfusion as a Treatment for Liver Metastases of Uveal Melanoma

Murine Model of Metastatic Liver Tumors in the Setting of Ischemia Reperfusion Injury

Liver ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury, a common clinical challenge, remains an inevitable pathophysiological process that has been shown to induce multiple tissue and organ damage. Despite recent advances and therapeutic approaches, the overall morbidity has remained unsatisfactory especially in patients with underlying parenchymal abnormalities. In the context of aggressive cancer growth and metastasis, surgical I/R is suspected to be the promoter regulating tumor recurrence. This article aims to describe a clinically relevant murine model of liver I/R and colorectal liver metastasis. In doing so, we aim to assist other investigators in establishing and perfecting this model for their routine research practice to better understand the effects of liver I/R on promoting liver metastases.

We describe in detail a clinically relevant colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM) tumor model and the influence of liver ischemia reperfusion (I/R) in tumor growth and metastasis. This model can help to better understand the mechanisms underlying surgery-induced promotion of liver metastatic growth.

Liver ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury, a common clinical challenge, remains an inevitable pathophysiological process that has been shown to induce ...

Cancer Research

Generation of a Liver Orthotopic Human Uveal Melanoma Xenograft Platform in Immunodeficient Mice

In recent decades, subcutaneously implanted patient-derived xenograft tumors or cultured human cell lines have been increasingly recognized as more representative models to study human cancers in immunodeficient mice than traditional established human cell lines in vitro. Recently, orthotopically implanted patient-derived tumor xenograft (PDX) models in mice have been developed to better replicate features of patient tumors. A liver orthotopic xenograft mouse model is expected to be a useful cancer research platform, providing insights into tumor biology and drug therapy. However, liver orthotopic tumor implantation is generally complicated. Here we describe our protocols for the orthotopic implantation of patient-derived liver-metastatic uveal melanoma tumors. We cultured human liver metastatic uveal melanoma cell lines into immunodeficient mice. The protocols can result in consistently high technical success rates using either a surgical orthotopic implantation technique with chunks of patient-derived uveal melanoma tumor or a needle injection technique with cultured human cell line. We also describe protocols for CT scanning to detect interior liver tumors and for re-implantation techniques using cryopreserved tumors to achieve re-engraftment. Together, these protocols provide a better platform for liver orthotopic tumor mouse models of liver metastatic uveal melanoma in translational research.

Orthotopic human liver metastatic uveal melanoma xenograft mouse models were created using surgical orthotopic implantation techniques with patient-derived tumor chunk and needle injection techniques with cultured human uveal melanoma cell lines.

In recent decades, subcutaneously implanted patient-derived xenograft tumors or cultured human cell lines have been increasingly recognized as more ...

Portal Vein Injection of Colorectal Cancer Organoids to Study the Liver Metastasis Stroma

Hepatic metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), a major component of the tumor microenvironment, play a crucial role in metastatic CRC progression and predict poor patient prognosis. However, there is a lack of satisfactory mouse models to study the crosstalk between metastatic cancer cells and CAFs. Here, we present a method to investigate how liver metastasis progression is regulated by the metastatic niche and possibly could be restrained by stroma-directed therapy. Portal vein injection of CRC organoids generated a desmoplastic reaction, which faithfully recapitulated the fibroblast-rich histology of human CRC liver metastases. This model was tissue-specific with a higher tumor burden in the liver when compared to an intra-splenic injection model, simplifying mouse survival analyses. By injecting luciferase-expressing tumor organoids, tumor growth kinetics could be monitored by in vivo imaging. Moreover, this preclinical model provides a useful platform to assess the efficacy of therapeutics targeting the tumor mesenchyme. We describe methods to examine whether adeno-associated virus-mediated delivery of a tumor-inhibiting stromal gene to hepatocytes could remodel the tumor microenvironment and improve mouse survival. This approach enables the development and assessment of novel therapeutic strategies to inhibit hepatic metastasis of CRC.

Portal vein injection of colorectal cancer (CRC) organoids generates stroma-rich liver metastasis. This mouse model of CRC hepatic metastasis represents a useful tool to study tumor-stroma interactions and develop novel stroma-directed therapeutics such as adeno-associated virus-mediated gene therapies.

Hepatic metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), a major component of the ...

Technique of Subnormothermic Ex Vivo Liver Perfusion for the Storage, Assessment, and Repair of Marginal Liver Grafts

The success of liver transplantation has resulted in a dramatic organ shortage. In most transplant regions 20-30% of patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation die without receiving an organ transplant or are delisted for disease progression. One strategy to increase the donor pool is the utilization of marginal grafts, such as fatty livers, grafts from older donors, or donation after cardiac death (DCD). The current preservation technique of cold static storage is only poorly tolerated by marginal livers resulting in significant organ damage. In addition, cold static organ storage does not allow graft assessment or repair prior to transplantation.
These shortcomings of cold static preservation have triggered an interest in warm perfused organ preservation to reduce cold ischemic injury, assess liver grafts during preservation, and explore the opportunity to repair marginal livers prior to transplantation. The optimal pressure and flow conditions, perfusion temperature, composition of the perfusion solution and the need for an oxygen carrier has been controversial in the past.
In spite of promising results in several animal studies, the complexity and the costs have prevented a broader clinical application so far. Recently, with enhanced technology and a better understanding of liver physiology during ex vivo perfusion the outcome of warm liver perfusion has improved and consistently good results can be achieved.
This paper will provide information about liver retrieval, storage techniques, and isolated liver perfusion in pigs. We will illustrate a) the requirements to ensure sufficient oxygen supply to the organ, b) technical considerations about the perfusion machine and the perfusion solution, and c) biochemical aspects of isolated organs.

Technique of Subnormothermic Ex Vivo Liver Perfusion for the Storage, Assessment, and Repair of Marginal Liver Grafts

Marginal grafts, such as fatty livers, grafts from older donors, or livers retrieved after cardiac death (DCD) tolerate conventional, cold static storage only poorly. We developed a novel model of subnormothermic ex vivo liver perfusion for preservation, assessment, and repair of marginal liver grafts prior to transplantation.

The success of liver transplantation has resulted in a dramatic organ shortage. In most transplant regions 20-30% of patients on the waiting list for ...

Implantation and Evaluation of Melanoma in the Murine Choroid via Optical Coherence Tomography

Establishing experimental choroidal melanoma models is challenging in terms of the ability to induce tumors at the correct localization. In addition, difficulties in observing posterior choroidal melanoma in vivo limit tumor location and growth evaluation in real-time. The approach described here optimizes techniques for establishing choroidal melanoma in mice via a multi-step sub-choroidal B16LS9 cell injection procedure. To enable precision in injecting into the small dimensions of the mouse uvea, the complete procedure is performed under a microscope. First, a conjunctival peritomy is formed in the dorsal-temporal area of the eye. Then, a tract into the sub-choroidal space is created by inserting a needle through the exposed sclera. This is followed by the insertion of a blunt needle into the tract and the injection of melanoma cells into the choroid. Immediately after injection, noninvasive optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging is utilized to determine tumor location and progress. Retinal detachment is evaluated as a predictor of tumor site and size. The presented method enables the reproducible induction of choroid-localized melanoma in mice and the live imaging of tumor growth evaluation. As such, it provides a valuable tool for studying intraocular tumors.

Implantation and Evaluation of Melanoma in the Murine Choroid via Optical Coherence Tomography

The present protocol describes the implantation and evaluation of melanoma in the murine choroid utilizing optical coherence tomography.

Establishing experimental choroidal melanoma models is challenging in terms of the ability to induce tumors at the correct localization. In addition, ...

Percutaneous Hepatic Perfusion (PHP) with Melphalan as a Treatment for Unresectable Metastases Confined to the Liver

Unresectable liver metastases of colorectal cancer can be treated with systemic chemotherapy, aiming to limit the disease, extend survival or turn unresectable metastases into resectable ones. Some patients however, suffer from side effects or progression under systemic treatment. For patients with metastasized uveal melanoma there are no standard systemic therapy options. For patients without extrahepatic disease, isolated liver perfusion (IHP) may enable local disease control with limited systemic side effects. Previously, this was performed during open surgery with satisfying results, but morbidity and mortality related to the open procedure, prohibited a widespread application. Therefore, percutaneous hepatic perfusion (PHP) with simultaneous chemofiltration was developed. Besides decreasing morbidity and mortality, this procedure can be repeated, hopefully leading to a higher response rate and improved survival (by local control of disease). During PHP, catheters are placed in the proper hepatic artery, to infuse the chemotherapeutic agent, and in the inferior caval vein to aspirate the chemosaturated blood returning through the hepatic veins. The caval vein catheter is a double balloon catheter that prohibits leakage into the systemic circulation. The blood returning from the hepatic veins is aspirated through the catheter fenestrations and then perfused through an extra-corporeal filtration system. After filtration, the blood is returned to the patient by a third catheter in the right internal jugular vein. During PHP a high dose of melphalan is infused into the liver, which is toxic and would lead to life threatening complications when administered systemically. Because of the significant hemodynamic instability resulting from the combination of caval vein occlusion and chemofiltration, hemodynamic monitoring and hemodynamic support is of paramount importance during this complex procedure.

Percutaneous Hepatic Perfusion PHP with Melphalan as a Treatment for Unresectable Metastases Confined to the Liver

In this manuscript, we describe percutaneous isolated hepatic perfusion with simultaneous chemofiltration as treatment for unresectable liver metastases. This procedure is performed under general anaesthesia in the angiosuite by an experienced team, consisting of an interventional radiologist, a clinical perfusionist and anaesthesiologist.

Unresectable liver metastases of colorectal cancer can be treated with systemic chemotherapy, aiming to limit the disease, extend survival or turn ...

Visualization of Vascular and Parenchymal Regeneration after 70% Partial Hepatectomy in Normal Mice

A modified silicone injection procedure was used for visualization of the hepatic vascular tree. This procedure consisted of in-vivo injection of the silicone compound, via a 26 G catheter, into the portal or hepatic vein. After silicone injection, organs were explanted and prepared for ex-vivo micro-CT (&#181;CT) scanning. The silicone injection procedure is technically challenging. Achieving a successful outcome requires extensive microsurgical experience from the surgeon. One of the challenges of this procedure involves determining the adequate perfusion rate for the silicone compound. The perfusion rate for the silicone compound needs to be defined based on the hemodynamic of the vascular system of interest. Inappropriate perfusion rate can lead to an incomplete perfusion, artificial dilation and rupturing of vascular trees.
The 3D reconstruction of the vascular system was based on CT scans and was achieved using preclinical software such as HepaVision. The quality of the reconstructed vascular tree was directly related to the quality of silicone perfusion. Subsequently computed vascular parameters indicative of vascular growth, such as total vascular volume, were calculated based on the vascular reconstructions. Contrasting the vascular tree with silicone allowed for subsequent histological work-up of the specimen after &#181;CT scanning. The specimen can be subjected to serial sectioning, histological analysis and whole slide scanning, and thereafter to 3D reconstruction of the vascular trees based on histological images. This is the prerequisite for the detection of molecular events and their distribution with respect to the vascular tree. This modified silicone injection procedure can also be used to visualize and reconstruct the vascular systems of other organs. This technique has the potential to be extensively applied to studies concerning vascular anatomy and growth in various animal and disease models.

Tools used for visualizing vascular regeneration require methods for contrasting the vascular trees. This film demonstrated a delicate injection technique used to achieve optimal contrasting of the vascular trees and illustrate the potential benefits resulting from a detailed analysis of the resulting specimen using &#181;CT and histological serial sections.

A modified silicone injection procedure was used for visualization of the hepatic vascular tree. This procedure consisted of in-vivo injection of the ...

A Small Animal Model of Ex Vivo Normothermic Liver Perfusion

There is a significant shortage of liver allografts available for transplantation, and in response the donor criteria have been expanded. As a result, normothermic ex vivo liver perfusion (NEVLP) has been introduced as a method to evaluate and modify organ function. NEVLP has many advantages in comparison to hypothermic and subnormothermic perfusion including reduced preservation injury, restoration of normal organ function under physiologic conditions, assessment of organ performance, and as a platform for organ repair, remodeling, and modification. Both murine and porcine NEVLP models have been described. We demonstrate a rat model of NEVLP and use this model to show one of its important applications &#8212; the use of a therapeutic molecule added to liver perfusate. Catalase is an endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger and has been demonstrated to decrease ischemia-reperfusion in the eye, brain, and lung. Pegylation has been shown to target catalase to the endothelium. Here, we added pegylated-catalase (PEG-CAT) to the base perfusate and demonstrated its ability to mitigate liver preservation injury. An advantage of our rodent NEVLP model is that it is inexpensive in comparison to larger animal models. A limitation of this study is that it does not currently include post-perfusion liver transplantation. Therefore, prediction of the function of the organ post-transplantation cannot be made with certainty. However, the rat liver transplant model is well established and certainly could be used in conjunction with this model. In conclusion, we have demonstrated an inexpensive, simple, easily replicable NEVLP model using rats. Applications of this model can include testing novel perfusates and perfusate additives, testing software designed for organ evaluation, and experiments designed to repair organs.

A Small Animal Model of Ex Vivo Normothermic Liver Perfusion

There is a significant liver donor shortage, and criteria for liver donors have been expanded. Normothermic ex vivo liver perfusion (NEVLP) has been developed to evaluate and modify organ function. This study demonstrates a rat model of NEVLP and tests the ability of pegylated-catalase, to mitigate liver preservation injury.

There is a significant shortage of liver allografts available for transplantation, and in response the donor criteria have been expanded. As a result, ...

Isolation of Regenerating Hepatocytes after Partial Hepatectomy in Mice

Partial hepatectomy has been widely used to investigate liver regeneration in mice, but the isolation of high yields of viable hepatocytes for downstream single-cell applications is challenging. A marked accumulation of lipids within regenerating hepatocytes is observed during the first 2 days of normal liver regeneration in mice. This so-called transient regeneration-associated steatosis (TRAS) is temporary but partially overlaps the major proliferative phase. Density-gradient purification is the backbone of most existing protocols for the isolation of primary hepatocytes. As gradient purification relies on the density and size of cells, it separates non-steatotic from steatotic hepatocyte populations. Therefore, fatty hepatocytes often are lost, yielding non-representative hepatocyte fractions. 
The presented protocol describes an easy and reliable method for the in vivo isolation of regenerating hepatocytes regardless of their lipid content. Hepatocytes from male C57BL/6 mice are isolated 24-48 h after hepatectomy by a classic two-step collagenase perfusion approach. A standard peristaltic pump drives the warmed solutions via the catheterized inferior vena cava into the remnant, using a retrograde perfusion technique with outflow through the portal vein. Hepatocytes are dissociated by collagenase for their release from the Glisson's capsule. After washing and careful centrifugation, the hepatocytes can be used for any downstream analyses. In conclusion, this paper describes a straightforward and reproducible technique for the isolation of a representative population of regenerating hepatocytes after partial hepatectomy in mice. The method may also aid the study of fatty liver disease.

Lipid-laden hepatocytes are inherent to liver regeneration but are usually lost upon density-gradient centrifugation. Here, we present an optimized cell isolation protocol that retains steatotic hepatocytes, yielding representative populations of regenerating hepatocytes after partial hepatectomy in mice.

Partial hepatectomy has been widely used to investigate liver regeneration in mice, but the isolation of high yields of viable hepatocytes for downstream ...

Development and Validation of a Porcine Ex Situ Isolated Liver Perfusion Model 

Porcine Normothermic Isolated Liver Perfusion

Porcine models of liver ex situ normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) are increasingly being used in transplant research. Contrary to rodents, porcine livers are anatomically and physiologically close to humans, with similar organ size and bile composition. NMP preserves the liver graft at near-to-physiological conditions by recirculating a warm, oxygenated, and nutrient-enriched red blood cell-based perfusate through the liver vasculature. NMP can be used to study ischemia-reperfusion injury, preserve a liver ex situ before transplantation, assess the liver's function prior to implantation, and provide a platform for organ repair and regeneration. Alternatively, NMP with a whole blood-based perfusate can be used to mimic transplantation. Nevertheless, this model is labor-intensive, technically challenging, and carries a high financial cost.
In this porcine NMP model, we use warm ischemic damaged livers (corresponding to donation after circulatory death). First, general anesthesia with mechanical ventilation is initiated, followed by the induction of warm ischemia by clamping the thoracic aorta for 60 min. Cannulas inserted in the abdominal aorta and portal vein allow flush-out of the liver with cold preservation solution. The flushed-out blood is washed with a cell saver to obtain concentrated red blood cells. Following hepatectomy, cannulas are inserted in the portal vein, hepatic artery, and infra-hepatic vena cava and connected to a closed perfusion circuit primed with a plasma expander and red blood cells. A hollow fiber oxygenator is included in the circuit and coupled to a heat exchanger to maintain a pO2 of 70-100 mmHg at 38 &#176;C. NMP is achieved by a continuous flow directly through the artery and via a venous reservoir through the portal vein. Flows, pressures, and blood gas values are continuously monitored. To evaluate the liver injury, perfusate and tissue are sampled at predefined time points; bile is collected via a cannula in the common bile duct.

The porcine model of liver normothermic machine perfusion (NMP), described here, can be successfully used to study NMP as a preservation strategy, a tool for viability assessment, and a platform for organ repair. It holds a high translational value, however it is technically challenging and labor-intensive.

Porcine models of liver ex situ normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) are increasingly being used in transplant research. Contrary to rodents, porcine ...

Isolated Hepatic Perfusion as a Treatment for Liver Metastases of Uveal Melanoma

Summary

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Chapters in this video

Murine Model of Metastatic Liver Tumors in the Setting of Ischemia Reperfusion Injury

Generation of a Liver Orthotopic Human Uveal Melanoma Xenograft Platform in Immunodeficient Mice

Portal Vein Injection of Colorectal Cancer Organoids to Study the Liver Metastasis Stroma

Technique of Subnormothermic Ex Vivo Liver Perfusion for the Storage, Assessment, and Repair of Marginal Liver Grafts

Implantation and Evaluation of Melanoma in the Murine Choroid via Optical Coherence Tomography

Percutaneous Hepatic Perfusion (PHP) with Melphalan as a Treatment for Unresectable Metastases Confined to the Liver

Visualization of Vascular and Parenchymal Regeneration after 70% Partial Hepatectomy in Normal Mice

A Small Animal Model of Ex Vivo Normothermic Liver Perfusion

Isolation of Regenerating Hepatocytes after Partial Hepatectomy in Mice

Porcine Normothermic Isolated Liver Perfusion