The prognosis of liver resection for patients with four or more colorectal liver metastases has not improved in the era of modern chemotherapy

Combined hepatic resection and ablation for high burden of colorectal liver metastases demonstrates safety and durable survival

BACKGROUND

Hepatic resection (HR) and thermal ablation of Colorectal Liver Metastases (CRLM) have each individually demonstrated safety and survival benefit. We sought to provide our experience with the combination of HR + ablation within one operation for patients with multiple CRLM.

METHODS

Review of a single institution database of patients who underwent HR + ablation between 2010 and 2019.

RESULTS

161 patients were identified who underwent HR + ablation for isolated CRLM (mean age: 59, male 63.4%). 125 (77.6%) patients had bilobar disease and 92 (57.1%) patients had ≥5 tumors. 28 (17.4%) patients experienced minor (grade 1 or 2) complications while 20 (12.4%) had grade 3-5 complications. Patients who underwent simultaneous colon resection with HR + ablation had a higher complication rate (22 of 47, 46.8%) than those undergoing HR + ablation only (26 of 114, 22.8%, p = 0.002). Median and 5-year OS for all patients undergoing HR + ablation was 38.2 months and 33.2%, respectively. 5-year hepatic recurrence free survival was 23.5%. Patients with 5 or more tumors demonstrated no difference in median survival compared to those with fewer than 5 tumors (37.0 months vs 38.4 months, p = 0.326).

CONCLUSIONS

In this population of CRLM patients with a relatively high burden of disease, HR + ablation demonstrated an acceptable safety profile as well as durable long-term survival.

Survival after combined resection and ablation is not inferior to that after resection alone, in patients with four or more colorectal liver metastases

PURPOSE

Colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) are the predominant factor limiting survival in patients with colorectal cancer. Multimodal treatment strategies are frequently necessary to achieve total tumor elimination. This study examines the efficacy of liver resection combined with local ablative therapy in comparison to liver resection only, in the treatment of patients with ≥ 4 CRLM.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study was conducted at the University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Germany. Patients with ≥ 4 CRLM in preoperative imaging, who underwent curative resection between 2010-2021, were included. Recurrent resections and deaths in the early postoperative phase were excluded. Ablation modalities included radiofrequency or microwave ablation, and irreversible electroporation. Differences in overall- (OS) and recurrence-free-survival (RFS) between patients undergoing combined resection-ablation vs. resection only, were examined.

RESULTS

Of 178 included patients, 46 (27%) underwent combined resection-ablation and 132 (73%) resection only. Apart from increased rates of adjuvant chemotherapy in the first group (44% vs. 25%, p = 0.014), there were no differences in perioperative systemic therapy. Kaplan-Meier and log-rank test analyses showed no statistically significant differences in median OS (36 months for both, p = 0.638) or RFS (9 months for combined resection-ablation vs. 8 months, p = 0.921). Cox regression analysis showed a hazard ratio of 0.891 (p = 0.642) for OS and 0.981 (p = 0.924) for RFS, for patients undergoing resection only.

CONCLUSION

For patients with ≥ 4 CRLM, combined resection-ablation is a viable option in terms of OS and RFS. Therefore, combined resection-ablation should be considered for complete tumor clearance, in patients with multifocal disease.

Combining Radiofrequency Ablation with Hepatic Resection for Liver-Only Colorectal Metastases: A Propensity-Score Based Analysis of Long-Term Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Combining liver resection (LR) with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is nowadays an accepted option for treating colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs), but the number of lesions ablated is regularly described as a recurrence risk factor. In this study, we report our experience and determine the impact of RFA on long-term outcomes.

METHOD

This is a retrospective study including patients undergoing LR with or without RFA for CRLM. All variables influencing disease-free survival (DFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) were examined through a Cox regression analysis before and after propensity-score matching (PSM).

RESULTS

Among the 128 patients included, 71 (55.5%) underwent LR alone and 57 (44.5%) underwent LR+RFA. With univariate analysis, LR+RFA showed a significantly worse DFS than LR alone (p = 0.028), which was not confirmed after PSM (p = 0.064). Thermal ablation did not influence DSS before or after matching (p = 0.282 and p = 0.189). When analyzing the subgroups of patients according to number of RFAs performed, no difference in long-term outcomes was observed (after PSM: p = 0.192 for DFS and p = 0.624 for DSS). Analysis of site of recurrence revealed that neither performing an RFA (p = 0.893) nor the number of lesions ablated (p = 0.093, p = 0.550, and p = 0.087 for 1, 2, and ≥ 2 RFAs) were associated with an increased risk of liver-only relapse.

DISCUSSION

In the setting of a parenchymal sparing strategy, combining RFA with LR is safe in terms of oncological outcomes. Tumor burden, rather than RFA performed, independently influences risk of recurrence and patient survival.

The prognosis and recurrence pattern of right- and left- sided colon cancer in Stage II, Stage III, and liver metastasis after curative resection

Purpose

Primary tumor location of colon cancer has been reported to affect the prognosis after curative resection. However, some reports suggested the impact was varied by tumor stage. This study analyzed the prognostic impact of the sidedness of colon cancer in stages II, III, and liver metastasis after curative resection using propensity-matched analysis.

Methods

Right-sided colon cancer was defined as a tumor located from cecum to splenic flexure, while any more distal colon cancer was defined as left-sided colon cancer. Patients who underwent curative resection at Nara Medical University hospital between 2000 and 2016 were analyzed.

Results

There were 110 patients with stage II, 100 patients with stage III, and 106 patients with liver metastasis. After propensity matching, 28 pairs with stage II and 32 pairs with stage III were identified. In the patients with stage II, overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were not significantly different for right- and left-sided colon cancers. In the patients with stage III, OS and RFS were significantly worse in right-sided colon cancer. In those with liver metastasis, OS of right-sided colon cancer was significantly worse than left-sided disease, while RFS was similar. Regarding metachronous liver metastasis, the difference was observed only in the patients whose primary colon cancer was stage III. In each stage, significantly higher rate of peritoneal recurrence was found in those with right-sided colon cancer.

Conclusion

Sidedness of colon cancer had a significant and varied prognostic impact in patients with stage II, III, and liver metastasis after curative resection.

Simultaneous Stereotactic Radiofrequency Ablation of Multiple (≥ 4) Liver Tumors: Feasibility, Safety, and Efficacy

PURPOSE

To assess feasibility, safety, and clinical outcome of simultaneous stereotactic radiofrequency (RF) ablation of multiple (≥ 4) primary and metastatic liver tumors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective observational study included 92 patients (29 women, 62 men), 35 with ≥ 4 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) and 57 with ≥ 4 metastatic liver tumors at initial stereotactic RF ablation between 2005 and 2018. The median size of 178 HCCs and 371 metastases was 2.2 cm (range, 1.0-8.5 cm) and 3.0 cm (range, 0.5-13 cm), respectively. At initial stereotactic RF ablation, 17 (48.6%) patients with HCC and 19 (33.3%) with metastases had 4 liver tumors, 11 (31.4%) and 19 (33.3%) had 5 tumors, and 7 (20%) and 19 (33.3%) had ≥ 6 tumors.

RESULTS

Major complications occurred in 2 of 35 ablations (5.4%) in patients with HCCs and in 7 of 63 (10%) with metastases. The primary technical efficacy rate (ie, successful initial ablation) was 100% (178/178) in HCCs and 98.8% (363/371) in metastases. Local recurrence was observed in 4 of 178 (2.2%) HCCs and in 17 of 371 (4.6%) metastases. Overall survival (OS) rates at 1, 3, and 5 years from the date of the first stereotactic RF ablation were 88.0%, 54.0%, and 30.4% for patients with HCCs with a median OS of 38.2 months and 86.1%, 53.1%, and 37.3% for patients with metastases with a median OS of 37.4 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Stereotactic RF ablation is a feasible, safe, and efficacious option in simultaneous management of multiple primary and metastatic liver tumors.

Which Patients with Isolated Para-aortic Lymph Node Metastasis Will Truly Benefit from Extended Lymph Node Dissection for Colon Cancer?

Purpose

The prognosis of patientswith colon cancer and para-aortic lymph node metastasis (PALNM) is poor. We analyzed the prognostic factors of extramesenteric lymphadenectomy for colon cancer patients with isolated PALNM.

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 49 patients with PALNM who underwent curative resection between October 1988 and December 2009.

Results

In univariate analyses, the 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were higher in patients with ≤ 7 positive para-aortic lymph node (PALN) (36.5% and 27.5%) than in those with > 7 PALN (14.3% and 14.3%; p=0.010 and p=0.027, respectively), and preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level > 5 was also correlated with a lower 5-year OS and DFS rate of 21.5% and 11.7% compared with those with CEA ≤ 5 (46.3% and 41.4%; p=0.122 and 0.039, respectively). Multivariate analysis found that the number of positive PALN (hazard ratio [HR], 3.291; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.309 to 8.275; p=0.011) was an independent prognostic factor for OS and the number of positive PALN (HR, 2.484; 95% CI, 0.993 to 6.211; p=0.052) and preoperative CEA level (HR, 1.953; 95% CI, 0.940 to 4.057; p=0.073) were marginally independent prognostic factors for DFS. According to our prognostic model, the 5-year OS and DFS rate increased to 59.3% and 53.3%, respectively, in patients with ≤ 7 positive PALN and CEA level ≤ 5.

Conclusion

PALN dissection might be beneficial in carefully selected patients with a low CEA level and less extensive PALNM.

Liver-directed therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer

INTRODUCTION

Colorectal cancer is a significant global health issue with over 1 million cases diagnosed annually throughout the world. 15% of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer will have liver metastases and 60% will develop liver metastases if they have metastatic disease. Oligometastatic colorectal cancer confined to the liver represents an intermediate state in the evolution of metastatic capacity that opens the opportunity for local interventions. Areas covered: The literature supports long-term survival if patients undergo liver resection of colorectal metastases. This article reviews the liver-directed therapeutic strategies available for the management of metastatic liver disease including hepatic arterial infusion therapy, radiofrequency ablation, radiation therapy and transarterial chemoembolization. Expert commentary: Great advances have been made with the use of liver directed therapies. In the USA using hepatic arterial infusions with FUDR and Decadron along with systemic therapy, 5 year survivals after liver resection have improved. In Europe with the use of HAI of Oxaliplatin, more patients have been able to get to resection and have obtained higher survival rates, even in second line therapy. New advances in ablative therapy have improved results to get all disease treated at resection for the treatment of reccurrence.

The safety of the early removal of prophylactic drainage after liver resection based solely on predetermined criteria: a propensity score analysis

BACKGROUND

Prophylactic drainage after liver resection remains a common practice amongst hepatic surgeons. However, there is little information about the optimal timing of drain removal.

METHODS

From April 2008 to December 2012 (conventional group), the drains were removed based on the treating surgeon's view. From January 2013 to April 2016 (ERP group), the drains were removed on POD 3 if the bile concentration of the drain discharge was less than three times the serum bilirubin on POD 3, and the amount of drain discharge was <500 ml on POD 3. The postoperative outcomes of the two groups were compared using one-to-one propensity score-matching analysis.

RESULTS

One hundred nine patients were extracted from ERP group (n = 226) and conventional group (n = 246). The time to drain removal was significantly shorter in the ERP group than in the conventional group (3 days vs. 5 days, P < 0.001). The frequency of delayed bile leakage or the appearance of symptomatic abdominal fluid collection after drain removal did not differ between the two groups (3% vs. 4%, P = 0.791).

CONCLUSION

Drain removal on POD 3 based on the volume and bile concentration is safe.