Combined liver resection and radiofrequency ablation for bilobar multiple colorectal liver metastasis

Repeat liver resection for colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs) is possible in a limited number of patients, with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as an alternative for unresectable CRLMs. The aim of this study was to analyse survival rates with these interventions. This was a database analysis of patients who underwent first and repeat interventions for synchronous and metachronous CRLMs between 2000 and 2013. Descriptive and survival statistics were calculated. Among 431 patients who underwent resection or RFA for CRLMs, 305 patients developed recurrences for which 160 repeat interventions (resection and/or RFA or ablative radiotherapy) were performed. In total, after 707 first or repeat interventions, 516 recurrences (73·0 per cent) developed, of which 276 were retreated curatively. At the time of first intervention, independent risk factors for death were lymph node-positive primary tumour (hazard ratio (HR) 1·40; P = 0·030), more than one CRLM (HR 1·53; P = 0·007), carcinoembryonic antigen level exceeding 200 ng/ml (HR 1·89; P = 0·020) and size of largest CRLM greater than 5 cm (HR 1·54; P = 0·014). The 5-year overall survival rates for liver resection and percutaneous RFA as first intervention were 51·9 and 53 per cent, with a median overall survival of 65·0 (95 per cent c.i. 47·3 to 82·6) and 62·1 (52·2 to 72·1) months, respectively. RFA had good oncological outcomes in patients with unresectable CRLMs. Radiofrequency ablation is progressively more applied with each additional intervention.

Hepatic arterial oxaliplatin plus intravenous 5-fluorouracil and cetuximab for first-line treatment of colorectal liver metastases: A multicenter phase II trial

Large numbers of synchronous colorectal liver metastases are associated with poor prognosis. A 47-year-old male patient with rectal cancer and unresectable colorectal liver metastases (over 15 cm in diameter and over 30 metastases) was treated with a multidisciplinary treatment including systemic chemotherapy with mFOLFOX6/panitumumab and surgical therapies (colostomy, modified associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy together with radiofrequency ablation). For solitary recurrent colorectal liver metastases, percutaneous radiofrequency ablation with chemoembolization and open radiofrequency ablation in combination with the same systemic chemotherapy was performed. Since the diagnosis 3 years ago, he has been leading a good quality of life, free of any tumor or treatment. For patients with far-advanced but liver-only colorectal liver metastases, surgical therapy, systemic chemotherapy, and interventional treatment can be important for achieving good prognosis.

Two-stage liver resection (2-SLR) is used clinically in conjunction with portal vein embolization for bilobar disease to increase the number of patients suitable for liver resection. The long-term outcomes after 2-SLR for multiple bilobar colorectal liver metastases (CLM) was examined. Patients who sought care between November 2003 and April 2006 with multiple CLM considered suitable for 2-SLR were prospectively followed. Clinicopathological data were collected. Surgical outcomes were defined as complete clearance of tumor (R0/R1/R2), postoperative morbidity (within 3 months), 30 day mortality, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS). A total of 131 patients with CLM underwent liver resection during the study period, 38 of whom were planned for a 2-SLR for multiple bilobar disease. Only 33 (87%) completed the 2-SLR with a curative intent. Five patients did not undergo stage II resection because of disease progression. The postoperative morbidity was 11 and 33% after stage I and stage II liver resections, respectively. Five patients (13%) encountered postoperative complications specific to liver surgery. The median interval from stage II resection to disease recurrence in the R0 group was 18 months versus 3 months in the R1/R2 group (P < 0.001). R0 resection with curative intent versus R1/R2 noncurative resection has a significantly longer period of DFS (P < 0.001) and OS (P = 0.04). The 2-SLR combined with portal vein embolization is an effective and safe method for resecting previously unresectable multiple bilobar CLM. However, a positive resection margin leads to poor DFS and OS.

At diagnosis 10–25% of patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) present as resectable disease. Liver resection is the gold standard treatment, resulting in a 5-year overall survival (OS) of 22–58%, local recurrence rates of 1.2–10.4% and a perioperative mortality of less than 5%. Multiple attempts have been made to assess the possible contribution of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to improve OS and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with unresectable colorectal liver metastases. The aim of this paper is to review the RFA literature in the setting of colorectal liver metastases: RFA with and without chemotherapy, RFA with and without resection, RFA for solitary unresectable CRLM, surgical and percutaneous imaging-guided RFA, RFA compared with chemotherapy. The reported OS, PFS, local recurrence rates, morbidity and mortality in these different settings are analyzed. This paper reflects on a possible role of RFA in resectable CRLM.

Hepatic resection is the procedure of choice for curative treatment of colorectal liver metastases (CLM). Objectives of surgical strategy are low intraoperative blood loss, short liver ischemic times and minor postoperative morbidity and mortality. Blood loss is an independent predictor of mortality and compromises, in common with postoperative complications, long-term outcome after hepatectomy for CLM. The type of liver resection has no impact on the outcome of patients with CLM; wedge resections are not inferior to anatomical resections in terms of tumor clearance, pattern of recurrence or survival. Despite the lack of proof of survival benefit, routine lymphadenectomy has been advocated, allowing the detection of microscopic lymph node metastases and with prognostic value. In experienced hands, minimally invasive liver surgery is safe with acceptable morbidity and mortality and oncological results comparable to open hepatic surgery, but with reduced blood loss and earlier recovery. The European Colorectal Metastases Treatment Group recommended treating up front with chemotherapy for patients with both resectable and unresectable CLM. However, neoadjuvant chemotherapy can induce damage to the remnant liver, dependent on the number of chemotherapy cycles. Therefore, in our opinion, preoperative chemotherapy should be reserved for patients whose CLM are marginally resectable or unresectable. A meta analysis of randomized trials dealing with perioperative chemotherapy for the treatment of resectable CLM demonstrated a benefit of systemic chemotherapy but did not answer the question of whether a neoadjuvant or adjuvant approach should be preferred. Analysis of the literature demonstrates that the results of specialized centers cannot be attained in the reality of comprehensive patient care. Reasons behind the commonly poorer results seen in cancer networks as compared with literature-based data are, on the one hand, geographical disparities in access to specialized surgical and medical care. On the other hand, a selection bias in the reports of the literature may be assumed. Studies of surgical resection for CLM derive almost exclusively from case series generally drawn from large academic centers where patient selection or surgical expertise is superior to what is found in many communities. Therefore, we may conclude that the comprehensive propagation of the standards outlined in this paper constitutes a major task in the near future to reduce the variations in survival of patients with CLM.

Chemotherapy for the conversion of unresectable colorectal cancer liver metastases to resection

Local recurrence rates after radiofrequency ablation or resection of colorectal liver metastases. Analysis of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer #40004 and #40983

Clinical significance and prognostic relevance of KRAS, BRAF, PI3K and TP53 genetic mutation analysis for resectable and unresectable colorectal liver metastases: A systematic review of the current evidence

A commentary on “The prognosis of radiofrequency ablation versus hepatic resection for patients with colorectal liver metastases: A systematic review and meta-analysis based on 22 studies” (Int J Surg 2021;87:105896)

Short- and long-term outcomes of hepatectomy combined with intraoperative radiofrequency ablation for patients with multiple primarily unresectable colorectal liver metastases: a propensity matching analysis

Recurrence and survival following microwave, radiofrequency ablation, and hepatic resection of colorectal liver metastases: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

BackgroundNo randomized controlled trial (RCT) has yet been performed to provide the evidence to clarify the therapeutic debate on liver resection (LR) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in treating colorectal liver metastases (CLM). The meta-analysis was performed to summarize the evidence mostly from retrospective clinical trials and to investigate the effect of LR and RFA.Methodology/Principal FindingsSystematic literature search of clinical studies was carried out to compare RFA and LR for CLM in Pubmed, Embase and the Cochrane Library Central databases. The meta-analysis was performed using risk ratio (RR) and random effect model, in which 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for RR were calculated. Primary outcomes were the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) at 3 and 5 years plus mortality and morbidity. 1 prospective study and 12 retrospective studies were finally eligible for meta-analysis. LR was significantly superior to RFA in 3 -year OS (RR 1.377, 95% CI: 1.246–1.522); 5-year OS (RR: 1.474, 95%CI: 1.284–1.692); 3-year DFS (RR 1.735, 95% CI: 1.483–2.029) and 5-year DFS (RR 2.227, 95% CI: 1.823–2.720). The postoperative morbidity was higher in LR (RR: 2.495, 95% CI: 1.881–3.308), but no significant difference was found in mortality between LR and RFA. The data from the 3 subgroups (tumor<3 cm; solitary tumor; open surgery or laparoscopic approach) showed significantly better OS and DFS in patients who received surgical resection.Conclusions/SignificancesAlthough multiple confounders exist in the clinical trials especially the bias in patient selection, LR was significantly superior to RFA in the treatment of CLM, even when conditions limited to tumor<3 cm, solitary tumor and open surgery or laparoscopic (lap) approach. Therefore, caution should be taken when treating CLM with RFA before more supportive evidences for RFA from RCTs are obtained.

Radiofrequency versus microwave ablation for intraoperative treatment of colorectal liver metastases

Transarterial Chemoembolization with Irinotecan Beads in the Treatment of Colorectal Liver Metastases: Systematic Review