Hetastarch induced volume changes of starving adenoma and suggested mechanism of action

Submucosal injection is often required step during endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). In clinical practice we have observed that the EMR injection solution containing hetastarch (HES) lead to selective increase of the neoplasms volume, facilitating their resection. The aim of this study was to explore the possible mechanisms of such behaviour, which was not reported elsewhere. The HCT116 cell line of human colon cancer was exposed to the same EMR solution in vitro. The significant volume increase of HCT116 cells was observed, but only for starving cell culture, suggesting that the starving is essential for the neoplasms-specific volume change. We suggest, that for the iso-oncotic composition of the EMR submucosa injection solution the HES component is crucial, as it can be subject of the starch hydrolysis followed by facilitated transport of resulting monosaccharides from the submucosa into the neoplastic tissue.