Colorectal NeoplasmsCRLMNCT07564908
Correlation and Heterogeneity of the Immune Microenvironment and Histopathological Growth Patterns in Resectable Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases
An observational study of Colorectal Neoplasms, run by Meng Qiu at 1 site in China.
Trial summary
Correlation and Heterogeneity of the Immune Microenvironment and Histopathological Growth Patterns in Resectable Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Any age
- Conditions the study is for
- Colorectal Neoplasms
- What is being tested?
- Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) sections of colorectal cancer liver metastases were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) staining.
- How many people
- 64 participants
- Where
- 1 siteChina
- Study dates
- 1 Jan 2018to 30 Dec 2030
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Any age
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Study population: This study enrolled patients with CRLM who underwent R0 resection.
Who may be able to join
- Patients with CRLM who underwent R0 resection
- Histologically or cytologically confirmed CRLM
- Have sufficient liver metastasis tissue specimens available for analysis
- Complete treatment and follow-up records
Who cannot join
- Patients did not undergo R0 resection
- Postoperative specimens were unavailable
- Clinical data were incomplete.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Correlation and Heterogeneity of the Immune Microenvironment and Histopathological Growth Patterns in Resectable Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases
Read the detailed description
This study aims to retrospectively analyze the status and spatial heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in liver metastases from patients with CRLM, as well as the association between HGPs at the tumor-liver interface and postoperative recurrence following resection of liver metastases. Furthermore, this study seeks to explore the underlying mechanisms through which HGPs influence patient prognosis.
- Conditions
- Colorectal Neoplasms
- Being tested
- Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) sections of colorectal cancer liver metastases were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) staining.
- Keywords
- Colorectal cancer liver metastases, Histopathological growth patterns, Tumor microenvironment
- Medical subject headings
- Colorectal Neoplasms
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) sections of colorectal cancer liver metastases were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) staining.Other
Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) sections of colorectal cancer liver metastases were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H\&E) and Multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) staining.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| patients with CRLM who underwent R0 resection | According to the 2017 guidelines on histopathological growth patterns of liver metastases, HGPs are primarily classified into three types: the desmoplastic histopathological growth pattern (dHGP), the replacement histopathological growth pattern (rHGP), and the pushing histopathological growth pattern (pHGP). The tumor-liver interface was independently delineated by two pathologists using QuPath software, and distinct HGPs at the tumor-liver interface were identified. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) sections of colorectal cancer liver metastases were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H\&E).Multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) staining was performed on FFPE sections of liver metastases using two panels (Panel 1: CD4, CD8A, Foxp3, PD-L1, Panck; Panel 2: CD68, CD163, FAP-α, α-SMA, Panck), encompassing a total of nine immune cell markers. Receives: Other: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) sections of colorectal cancer liver metastases were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) staining. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
OS(Overall survival)
OS was defined as the time from the date of the first liver metastasis resection to death due to any cause or loss to follow-up.
Measured: OS is defined as the time from the date of the first liver metastasis resection to death due to any cause or loss to follow-up, assessed up to 100 months.
RFS (Recurrence-free Survival)
The definition of recurrence-free survival is the time from the liver surgery to the first imaging evidence showing disease recurrence or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first.
Measured: From the date of liver resection until the first occurrence of a measurable recurrence of the disease, or until death due to any cause (whichever occurs first), the assessment period can be up to 100 months.
HGPs (Histopathological Growth Patterns)
The histopathological growth pattern of the tumor-liver interface.
Measured: From the completion of HE staining to the failure of staining or the damage and loss of the slides, the assessment period can be up to 100 months.
TME (Tumor Microenvironment)
Multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) staining was performed on FFPE sections of liver metastases using two panels (Panel 1: CD4, CD8A, Foxp3, PD-L1, Panck; Panel 2: CD68, CD163, FAP-α, α-SMA, Panck), encompassing a total of nine immune cell markers. Using QuPath pathology imaging software, tissue sections were divided into the tumor center (defined as regions >500 μm from the liver-tumor interface) and the invasive tumor front (defined as a 1 mm region extending 500 μm on either side of the liver-tumor interface). Quantitative analysis of immune cell populations was performed in the tumor center, the invasive tumor front, and regions corresponding to different histopathological growth patterns.
Measured: From the completion of mIHC staining to the failure of staining or the damage and loss of the slides, the assessment period can be up to 100 months.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 May 2026
- Study start1 Jan 2018
- Primary completion30 Dec 2030 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Dec 2030 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (7)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Colorectal NeoplasmsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Retrospective
- Enrolment
- 64 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Meng Qiu
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Meng Qiu, West China Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07564908
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Approval No. 2021, 2024
- Acronym
- CRLM
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 27 Apr 2026
- Last updated
- 4 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: First of all, there is a lack of sufficient funds or personnel to anonymize and maintain the data for a long time, such as the original imaging documents, which are difficult to organize compliance. Second, this study was an early exploratory study with small data size and high risk of identification. Finally, summary results are available after publication, and the data will be reassessed 5 years after the end of the study.
Publications
Zhang A, Zhang Y, Xu J, Zhu R, Liang T, Guo L. Molecular landscape of colorectal cancer liver metastasis: Tumor microenvironment heterogeneity and driver inference. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2025 Dec;216:104946. doi: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2025.104946. Epub 2025 Sep 12.
PubMed 40946880Liang JY, Xi SY, Shao Q, Yuan YF, Li BK, Zheng Y, Wang DS, Wu XJ, Ding PR, Chen G, Li LR, Wang FH, Wang ZQ, Pan ZZ, Xu RH, Li YH. Histopathological growth patterns correlate with the immunoscore in colorectal cancer liver metastasis patients after hepatectomy. Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2020 Dec;69(12):2623-2634. doi: 10.1007/s00262-020-02632-6. Epub 2020 Jun 29.
PubMed 32601799He Y, Han Y, Fan AH, Li D, Wang B, Ji K, Wang X, Zhao X, Lu Y. Multi-perspective comparison of the immune microenvironment of primary colorectal cancer and liver metastases. J Transl Med. 2022 Oct 4;20(1):454. doi: 10.1186/s12967-022-03667-2.
PubMed 36195882Hoppener DJ, Nierop PMH, Hof J, Sideras K, Zhou G, Visser L, Gouw ASH, de Jong KP, Sprengers D, Kwekkeboom J, Vermeulen PB, Grunhagen DJ, Verhoef C. Enrichment of the tumour immune microenvironment in patients with desmoplastic colorectal liver metastasis. Br J Cancer. 2020 Jul;123(2):196-206. doi: 10.1038/s41416-020-0881-z. Epub 2020 May 18.
PubMed 32418992Stremitzer S, Vermeulen P, Graver S, Kockx M, Dirix L, Yang D, Zhang W, Stift J, Wrba F, Gruenberger T, Lenz HJ, Scherer SJ. Immune phenotype and histopathological growth pattern in patients with colorectal liver metastases. Br J Cancer. 2020 May;122(10):1518-1524. doi: 10.1038/s41416-020-0812-z. Epub 2020 Mar 24.
PubMed 32205863van Dam PJ, van der Stok EP, Teuwen LA, Van den Eynden GG, Illemann M, Frentzas S, Majeed AW, Eefsen RL, Coebergh van den Braak RRJ, Lazaris A, Fernandez MC, Galjart B, Laerum OD, Rayes R, Grunhagen DJ, Van de Paer M, Sucaet Y, Mudhar HS, Schvimer M, Nystrom H, Kockx M, Bird NC, Vidal-Vanaclocha F, Metrakos P, Simoneau E, Verhoef C, Dirix LY, Van Laere S, Gao ZH, Brodt P, Reynolds AR, Vermeulen PB. International consensus guidelines for scoring the histopathological growth patterns of liver metastasis. Br J Cancer. 2017 Nov 7;117(10):1427-1441. doi: 10.1038/bjc.2017.334. Epub 2017 Oct 5.
PubMed 28982110Latacz E, Hoppener D, Bohlok A, Leduc S, Tabaries S, Fernandez Moro C, Lugassy C, Nystrom H, Bozoky B, Floris G, Geyer N, Brodt P, Llado L, Van Mileghem L, De Schepper M, Majeed AW, Lazaris A, Dirix P, Zhang Q, Petrillo SK, Vankerckhove S, Joye I, Meyer Y, Gregorieff A, Roig NR, Vidal-Vanaclocha F, Denis L, Oliveira RC, Metrakos P, Grunhagen DJ, Nagtegaal ID, Mollevi DG, Jarnagin WR, D'Angelica MI, Reynolds AR, Doukas M, Desmedt C, Dirix L, Donckier V, Siegel PM, Barnhill R, Gerling M, Verhoef C, Vermeulen PB. Histopathological growth patterns of liver metastasis: updated consensus guidelines for pattern scoring, perspectives and recent mechanistic insights. Br J Cancer. 2022 Oct;127(6):988-1013. doi: 10.1038/s41416-022-01859-7. Epub 2022 Jun 1.
PubMed 35650276
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Correlation and Heterogeneity of the Immune Microenvironment and Histopathological Growth Patterns in Resectable Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07564908
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- CRLM / Approval No. 2021, 2024
- Conditions
- Colorectal Neoplasms
- Keywords
- Colorectal cancer liver metastases, Histopathological growth patterns, Tumor microenvironment
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 64 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Meng QiuUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jan 2018 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Dec 2030 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Dec 2030 (estimated)
- First posted
- 4 May 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Correlation and Heterogeneity of the Immune Microenvironment and Histopathological Growth Patterns in Resectable Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases
Detailed description
This study aims to retrospectively analyze the status and spatial heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in liver metastases from patients with CRLM, as well as the association between HGPs at the tumor-liver interface and postoperative recurrence following resection of liver metastases. Furthermore, this study seeks to explore the underlying mechanisms through which HGPs influence patient prognosis.
Study design
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Retrospective
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| patients with CRLM who underwent R0 resection | – | Other: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) sections of colorectal cancer liver metastases were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) staining.According to the 2017 guidelines on histopathological growth patterns of liver metastases, HGPs are primarily classified into three types: the desmoplastic histopathological growth pattern (dHGP), the replacement histopathological growth pattern (rHGP), and the pushing histopathological growth pattern (pHGP). The tumor-liver interface was independently delineated by two pathologists using QuPath software, and distinct HGPs at the tumor-liver interface were identified. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) sections of colorectal cancer liver metastases were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H\&E).Multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) staining was performed on FFPE sections of liver metastases using two panels (Panel 1: CD4, CD8A, Foxp3, PD-L1, Panck; Panel 2: CD68, CD163, FAP-α, α-SMA, Panck), encompassing a total of nine immune cell markers. |
Who may qualify
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- This study enrolled patients with CRLM who underwent R0 resection.
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Patients with CRLM who underwent R0 resection
- Histologically or cytologically confirmed CRLM
- Have sufficient liver metastasis tissue specimens available for analysis
- Complete treatment and follow-up records
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Patients did not undergo R0 resection
- Postoperative specimens were unavailable
- Clinical data were incomplete.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) sections of colorectal cancer liver metastases were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) staining.Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) sections of colorectal cancer liver metastases were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H\&E) and Multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) staining. | Other | patients with CRLM who underwent R0 resection |
Primary outcome
OS(Overall survival)
Time frame: OS is defined as the time from the date of the first liver metastasis resection to death due to any cause or loss to follow-up, assessed up to 100 months.
OS was defined as the time from the date of the first liver metastasis resection to death due to any cause or loss to follow-up.
RFS (Recurrence-free Survival)
Time frame: From the date of liver resection until the first occurrence of a measurable recurrence of the disease, or until death due to any cause (whichever occurs first), the assessment period can be up to 100 months.
The definition of recurrence-free survival is the time from the liver surgery to the first imaging evidence showing disease recurrence or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first.
HGPs (Histopathological Growth Patterns)
Time frame: From the completion of HE staining to the failure of staining or the damage and loss of the slides, the assessment period can be up to 100 months.
The histopathological growth pattern of the tumor-liver interface.
TME (Tumor Microenvironment)
Time frame: From the completion of mIHC staining to the failure of staining or the damage and loss of the slides, the assessment period can be up to 100 months.
Multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) staining was performed on FFPE sections of liver metastases using two panels (Panel 1: CD4, CD8A, Foxp3, PD-L1, Panck; Panel 2: CD68, CD163, FAP-α, α-SMA, Panck), encompassing a total of nine immune cell markers. Using QuPath pathology imaging software, tissue sections were divided into the tumor center (defined as regions >500 μm from the liver-tumor interface) and the invasive tumor front (defined as a 1 mm region extending 500 μm on either side of the liver-tumor interface). Quantitative analysis of immune cell populations was performed in the tumor center, the invasive tumor front, and regions corresponding to different histopathological growth patterns.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 May 2026.
- Background: PubMed 40946880Zhang A, Zhang Y, Xu J, Zhu R, Liang T, Guo L. Molecular landscape of colorectal cancer liver metastasis: Tumor microenvironment heterogeneity and driver inference. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2025 Dec;216:104946. doi: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2025.104946. Epub 2025 Sep 12.
- Background: PubMed 32601799Liang JY, Xi SY, Shao Q, Yuan YF, Li BK, Zheng Y, Wang DS, Wu XJ, Ding PR, Chen G, Li LR, Wang FH, Wang ZQ, Pan ZZ, Xu RH, Li YH. Histopathological growth patterns correlate with the immunoscore in colorectal cancer liver metastasis patients after hepatectomy. Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2020 Dec;69(12):2623-2634. doi: 10.1007/s00262-020-02632-6. Epub 2020 Jun 29.
- Background: PubMed 36195882He Y, Han Y, Fan AH, Li D, Wang B, Ji K, Wang X, Zhao X, Lu Y. Multi-perspective comparison of the immune microenvironment of primary colorectal cancer and liver metastases. J Transl Med. 2022 Oct 4;20(1):454. doi: 10.1186/s12967-022-03667-2.
- Background: PubMed 32418992Hoppener DJ, Nierop PMH, Hof J, Sideras K, Zhou G, Visser L, Gouw ASH, de Jong KP, Sprengers D, Kwekkeboom J, Vermeulen PB, Grunhagen DJ, Verhoef C. Enrichment of the tumour immune microenvironment in patients with desmoplastic colorectal liver metastasis. Br J Cancer. 2020 Jul;123(2):196-206. doi: 10.1038/s41416-020-0881-z. Epub 2020 May 18.
- Background: PubMed 32205863Stremitzer S, Vermeulen P, Graver S, Kockx M, Dirix L, Yang D, Zhang W, Stift J, Wrba F, Gruenberger T, Lenz HJ, Scherer SJ. Immune phenotype and histopathological growth pattern in patients with colorectal liver metastases. Br J Cancer. 2020 May;122(10):1518-1524. doi: 10.1038/s41416-020-0812-z. Epub 2020 Mar 24.
- Background: PubMed 28982110van Dam PJ, van der Stok EP, Teuwen LA, Van den Eynden GG, Illemann M, Frentzas S, Majeed AW, Eefsen RL, Coebergh van den Braak RRJ, Lazaris A, Fernandez MC, Galjart B, Laerum OD, Rayes R, Grunhagen DJ, Van de Paer M, Sucaet Y, Mudhar HS, Schvimer M, Nystrom H, Kockx M, Bird NC, Vidal-Vanaclocha F, Metrakos P, Simoneau E, Verhoef C, Dirix LY, Van Laere S, Gao ZH, Brodt P, Reynolds AR, Vermeulen PB. International consensus guidelines for scoring the histopathological growth patterns of liver metastasis. Br J Cancer. 2017 Nov 7;117(10):1427-1441. doi: 10.1038/bjc.2017.334. Epub 2017 Oct 5.
- Background: PubMed 35650276Latacz E, Hoppener D, Bohlok A, Leduc S, Tabaries S, Fernandez Moro C, Lugassy C, Nystrom H, Bozoky B, Floris G, Geyer N, Brodt P, Llado L, Van Mileghem L, De Schepper M, Majeed AW, Lazaris A, Dirix P, Zhang Q, Petrillo SK, Vankerckhove S, Joye I, Meyer Y, Gregorieff A, Roig NR, Vidal-Vanaclocha F, Denis L, Oliveira RC, Metrakos P, Grunhagen DJ, Nagtegaal ID, Mollevi DG, Jarnagin WR, D'Angelica MI, Reynolds AR, Doukas M, Desmedt C, Dirix L, Donckier V, Siegel PM, Barnhill R, Gerling M, Verhoef C, Vermeulen PB. Histopathological growth patterns of liver metastasis: updated consensus guidelines for pattern scoring, perspectives and recent mechanistic insights. Br J Cancer. 2022 Oct;127(6):988-1013. doi: 10.1038/s41416-022-01859-7. Epub 2022 Jun 1.
- Pubmed Official websiteLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. First of all, there is a lack of sufficient funds or personnel to anonymize and maintain the data for a long time, such as the original imaging documents, which are difficult to organize compliance. Second, this study was an early exploratory study with small data size and high risk of identification. Finally, summary results are available after publication, and the data will be reassessed 5 years after the end of the study.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Colorectal Neoplasms, run by Meng Qiu at 1 site in China.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
OS(Overall survival) (time frame: OS is defined as the time from the date of the first liver metastasis resection to death due to any cause or loss to follow-up, assessed up to 100 months.). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07564908, which also lists 7 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 May 2026.