Recent insights into the pathophysiology of omental metastases

• Published in: Journal of surgical oncology Vol. 110; no. 6; pp. 670 - 675
• Main Authors: Koppe, Manuel J., Nagtegaal, Iris D., de Wilt, Johannes H.W., Ceelen, Wim P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-11-2014; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: adipocytes; Adipocytes - physiology; adipose stem cells; Animals; Ascites - physiopathology; Cell Adhesion - physiology; Humans; Macrophages - physiology; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - physiology; milky spots; Neoplasm Seeding; omental metastases; Omentum; pathophysiology; Peritoneal Neoplasms - physiopathology; Peritoneal Neoplasms - secondary; Peritoneal Neoplasms - surgery; adipose stem cells; omental metastases; adipocytes; milky spots; pathophysiology
• ISSN: 0022-4790; 1096-9098
• DOI: 10.1002/jso.23681

Although, useful in inflammatory conditions, the greater omentum represents an important site of metastasis in peritoneal carcinomatosis and is therefore frequently removed as a staging or therapeutic tool. Apart from the milky spots, omental adipose stem cells, and adipocytes have recently been identified to play a role in the preferential homing of tumor cells to the omentum. The extent of omentectomy and whether a routine omentectomy should be done are still known unknowns. J. Surg. Oncol. 2014 110:670–675. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.