Evaluation of the necessity of primary tumor resection for synchronous metastatic colorectal cancer.

Abstract

592 Background: Recent advances in chemotherapy have improved survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Resection of primary tumor for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer remains controversial. Primary tumor with obstruction or bleeding may be recommended to resection pior to chemotherapy. In contrast, it should be considered potential complications associated with resection of primary tumor and disadvantage of the delay in chemotherapy. Here, we evaluate the needs of primary tumor resection for colorectal cancer patients with synchronous metastases. Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients with synchronous metastatic colorectal cancer treated at Kumamoto University Hospital between April, 2005 and December, 2009 was performed. We compared the survival of resected patients and non-resected patients. Results: 104 patients were identified. Sixty-four and 40 patients were included in the resected group and the non-resected group respectively. The mean follow-up time was 16.1 months. Median age was 61.9 and 64.3 years respectively. The non-resected group was more likely to have right-sided tumors (resected: 28%, non-resected: 43%). The number of patient with metastatic disease limited to the liver was similar in both group(resected: 48%, non-resected: 50%). In the resected group, 12 patients (18%) developed postoperative complications. In the nonresected group, 5 patients (12.5%) required creation of a diverting colostomy during the course of their treatment due to obstruction, and 2 patients (5%) required emergency surgical treatment for intestinal perforation due to the primary tumor. No significant difference in survival was observed between the groups, (logrank P=0.33). Median survival period was not significantly different (resected: 27.3 months, non-resected: 21.5 months, P=0.43). Conclusions: We concluded that it was not necessary to resect the primary lesion in patients with synchronous metastatic colorectal cancer when obstruction or bleeding was not found in primary lesions.