The goal of this project is to investigate the extent and role of mesothelial - mesenchymal transition (MMT) and cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the pathogenesis of colorectal peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC).
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
53
Resection specimen will be obtained during CRS from normal peritoneum at a distance, normal peritoneum close to a peritoneal metastasis, miliary peritoneal carcinomatosis, and established peritoneal carcinomatosis.
Ghent University Hospital
Ghent, Belgium
Immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis
Extensive IHC analysis will be performed including CD44, integrins, ICAM-1, hyaluronate, and VCAM-1 (adhesion molecules); calretinin, mesothelin, WT1, cytokeratins and E-cadherin (mesothelial markers); α-SMA, FAP and podoplanin (CAF specific markers); PDGF, VEGF and EDGF (angiogenesis related markers)
Time frame: Within 6 months after collection of the samples
Intra-tumoral versus peritoneal vascularity
Vacularity will be assed using chalkley counts
Time frame: Within 6 months after collection of the samples
Laser capture microdisssection (LCM) followed by gene expression analysis
Different cell types (mesothelial cells, submesothelial resident fibroblasts, CAFs) will be isolated using LCM, followed by gene expression analysis
Time frame: Within 12 months after collection of the samples
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