Combined first-stage hepatectomy and colorectal resection in a two-stage hepatectomy strategy for bilobar synchronous liver metastases

Two-stage hepatectomy: who will not jump over the second hurdle?

BACKGROUND

Two-stage hepatectomy uses compensatory liver regeneration after a first noncurative hepatectomy to enable a second curative resection in patients with bilobar colorectal liver metastasis (CLM).

OBJECTIVE

To determine the predictive factors of failure of two-stage hepatectomy.

METHOD

Between 2000 and 2010, 48 patients with irresectable CLM were eligible for two-stage hepatectomy. The planned strategy was a) cleaning of the left hepatic lobe (first hepatectomy), b) right portal vein embolisation and c) right hepatectomy (second hepatectomy). Six patients had occult CLM (n = 5) or extra-hepatic disease (n = 1), which was discovered during the first hepatectomy. Thus, 42 patients completed the first hepatectomy and underwent portal vein embolisation in order to receive the second hepatectomy. Eight patients did not undergo a second hepatectomy due to disease progression.

RESULTS

Upon univariate analysis, two factors were identified that precluded patients from having the second hepatectomy: the combined resection of a primary tumour during the first hepatectomy (p = 0.01) and administration of chemotherapy between the two hepatectomies (p = 0.03). An independent association with impairment to perform the two-stage strategy was demonstrated by multivariate analysis for only the combined resection of the primary colorectal cancer during the first hepatectomy (p = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

Due to the small number of patients and the absence of equivalent conclusions in other studies, we cannot recommend performance of an isolated colorectal resection prior to chemotherapy. However, resection of an asymptomatic primary tumour before chemotherapy should not be considered as an outdated procedure.

Current state of surgical treatment of liver metastases from colorectal cancer

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.

Feasibility study of two-stage hepatectomy for bilobar liver metastases

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to analyze the feasibility and early outcomes of 2-stage liver resection for bilobar metastases.

METHODS

Data from 39 consecutive patients undergoing 2-stage hepatectomy between 2004 and 2010 were prospectively collected.

RESULTS

The median age was 59 years (range, 33-79 years), and the ratio of men to women was 1.8:1. Metastases were colorectal carcinoma (n = 33), neuroendocrine tumors (n = 3), gastrointestinal stromal tumor (n = 1), ocular melanoma (n = 1), and salivary gland carcinoma (n = 1). Perioperative chemotherapy was given to 32 patients (82%). Twenty-nine patients (74%) underwent portal venous embolization. Radiofrequency ablation was used in 8 patients (21%). Twenty-seven patients (69%) successfully completed clearance. For the 1st and 2nd stages, the median lengths of stay were 11 days (range, 6-53 days) and 13 days (range, 6-44 days), and morbidity rates were 23% and 56%. Liver insufficiency occurred in 2 (5%) and 6 (22%) patients. Overall mortality was 2.6%. For colorectal metastases, median survival in successes versus failures was 24 versus 10 months (P = .03), and 3-year survival was 30% versus 0%.

CONCLUSIONS

Two-stage hepatectomy is feasible, with 69% of patients achieving clearance with low mortality. Morbidity is significant, particularly transient hepatic insufficiency.

Chemotherapy between the first and second stages of a two-stage hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases: should we routinely recommend it?

BACKGROUND

The aim of the present study is to examine the effect of systemic chemotherapy after the 1st-stage hepatectomy (CT×2) on the progression of disease and dropout rates. A major pitfall of the 2-stage hepatectomy procedure is a high dropout rate after the 1st-stage hepatectomy due to progression of disease (PD). Routine use of CT×2 has been advocated.

METHODS

A total of 47 patients with multiple, bilateral unresectable liver metastases were selected for a 2-stage hepatectomy procedure (±portal vein occlusion).

RESULTS

Of the total, 37 patients (78.7%) underwent systemic chemotherapy before the 1st-stage hepatectomy (CT×1) and 25 patients (53.2%) underwent CT×2; PD was significantly more common during CT×2 than during CT×1 (P=.002). Of the 47 patients planned for the 2nd-stage hepatectomy, 36 (76.6%) completed the procedure. Of these 47 patients, 25 (53.2%) showed PD after the 1st-stage hepatectomy, 12 in the CT×2 group and 13 in the no-CT×2 group; administration of CT×2 did not significantly affect the PD rate (P=.561). The overall dropout rate was 23.4% (n=11 patients): 16% in the CT×2 group vs. 31.8% in the no-CT×2 group (P=.303).

CONCLUSIONS

The routine use of chemotherapy between the 1st- and 2nd-stage hepatectomy does not guarantee lower PD and dropout rates.

Two-stage hepatectomy for multiple bilobar colorectal liver metastases

BACKGROUND

As surgical resection of colorectal liver metastases (CLM) remains the only treatment for cure, efforts to extend the surgical indications to include patients with multiple bilobar CLM have been made. This study evaluated the long-term outcome, safety and efficacy of two-stage hepatectomy (TSH) for CLM in a large cohort of patients.

METHODS

Patients undergoing surgery between December 1996 and December 2009 were reviewed. The early postoperative and long-term outcomes as well as the patterns of failure to complete TSH and its clinical implications were analysed.

RESULTS

Eighty patients were scheduled to undergo TSH. Sixty-one patients had completion of TSH combined with (58 patients), or without (3) portal vein embolization/ligation (PVE/PVL). Five patients were excluded after first-stage hepatectomy and 14 after PVE/PVL. The 5-year overall survival rate and median survival in patients who completed TSH were 32 per cent and 39·6 months respectively, and corresponding recurrence-free values were 11 per cent and 9·4 months respectively. Six patients were alive beyond 5 years after TSH. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that failure to complete TSH was driven by two independent prognostic scenarios: three or more CLM in the future remnant liver (FRL) combined with age over 70 years predicted tumour progression after first-stage hepatectomy, and three or more CLM in the FRL combined with carcinomatosis at the time of first-stage hepatectomy predicted the development of additional FRL metastases after PVE/PVL.

CONCLUSION

A therapeutic strategy using TSH provided acceptable long-term survival with no postoperative mortality. Further efforts are needed to increase the number of patients who undergo TSH successfully.

Colorectal liver metastases

BACKGROUND

Despite major advances in therapies for liver metastases, colorectal cancer remains one of the commonest causes of cancer-related deaths in the UK.

SOURCES OF DATA

The international literature on the management of colorectal liver metastases (CLM) was reviewed.

AREAS OF AGREEMENT

Due to a combination of highly active systemic agents and low perioperative mortality achieved by high-volume centres, a growing number of patients are being offered liver resection with curative intent. Patients with bilobar and/or extrahepatic disease who would previously have received palliative treatment only, are undergoing major surgery with good results. This review focuses on preoperative evaluation, surgical planning and the role of adjuvant therapies in the management of patients with CLM.

AREAS OF CONTROVERSY

Can ablative therapies match the outcomes of surgical resection? How can even more patients be rendered resectable?

GROWING POINTS

The use of other therapies, such as radiofrequency ablation and selective internal radiation therapy.

AREAS TIMELY FOR DEVELOPING RESEARCH

New chemotherapy regimens for neo-adjuvant therapy and the development of new modalities of liver tumour ablation.