Survival after lung metastasectomy for colorectal cancer: importance of previous liver metastasis as a prognostic factor. Eur J Surg Oncol. 2011;37:786-790. [PMID: 21723689 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejso.2011.05.014]

Cost-effectiveness of surveillance intervals after curative resection of colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Major guidelines consistently recommend 5 years of postoperative surveillance for patients with colorectal cancer. However, they differ in their recommendations for examination intervals and whether they should vary according to disease stage. Furthermore, there are no reports on the cost-effectiveness of the different surveillance schedules. The objective of this study is to identify the most cost-effective surveillance intervals after curative resection of colorectal cancer.

METHODS

A total of 3701 patients who underwent curative surgery for colorectal cancer at the National Cancer Center Hospital were included. A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted for the five surveillance strategies with reference to the guidelines. Expected medical costs and quality-adjusted life years after colorectal cancer resection were calculated using a state-transition model by Monte Carlo simulation. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio per quality-adjusted life years gained was calculated for each strategy, with a maximum acceptable value of 43 500-52 200 USD (5-6 million JPY).

RESULTS

Stages I, II and III included 1316, 1082 and 1303 patients, respectively, with 45, 140 and 338 relapsed cases. For patients with stage I disease, strategy 4 (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio $26 555/quality-adjusted life year) was considered to be the most cost-effective, while strategies 3 ($83 071/quality-adjusted life year) and 2 ($289 642/quality-adjusted life year) exceeded the threshold value. In stages II and III, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for strategy 3 was the most cost-effective option, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $18 358-22 230/quality-adjusted life year.

CONCLUSIONS

In stage I, the cost-effectiveness of intensive surveillance is very poor and strategy 4 is the most cost-effective. Strategy 3 is the most cost-effective in stages II and III.

Do resected colorectal cancer patients need early chest imaging? Impact of clinicopathologic characteristics on time to development of pulmonary metastases

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

For patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), the lung is the most common extra-abdominal site of distant metastasis. However, practices for chest imaging after colorectal resection vary widely. We aimed to identify characteristics that may indicate a need for early follow-up imaging.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed charts of patients who underwent CRC resection, collecting clinicopathologic details and oncologic outcomes. Patients were grouped by timing of pulmonary metastases (PM) development. Analyses were performed to investigate odds ratio (OR) of PM diagnosis within 3 months of CRC resection.

RESULTS

Of 1600 patients with resected CRC, 233 (14.6%) developed PM, at a median of 15.4 months following CRC resection. Univariable analyses revealed age, receipt of systemic therapy, lymph node ratio (LNR), lymphovascular and perineural invasion, and KRAS mutation as risk factors for PM. Furthermore, multivariable regression showed neoadjuvant therapy (OR: 2.99, p < 0.001), adjuvant therapy (OR: 6.28, p < 0.001), LNR (OR: 28.91, p < 0.001), and KRAS alteration (OR: 5.19, p < 0.001) to predict PM within 3 months post-resection.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified clinicopathologic characteristics that predict development of PM within 3 months after primary CRC resection. Early surveillance in such patients should be emphasized to ensure timely identification and treatment of PM.

CT-based radiomics analysis to predict local progression of recurrent colorectal liver metastases after microwave ablation

The objective of this study is to establish and validate a radiomics nomogram for prediction of local tumor progression (LTP) after microwave ablation (MWA) for recurrent colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) after hepatic resection. We included 318 consecutive recurrent CRLM patients (216 of training while 102 of validation cohort) with contrast-enhanced computerized tomography images treated with MWA between January 2014 and October 2018. Support vector machine-generated radiomics signature was incorporated together with clinical information to establish a radiomics nomogram. Our constructed radiomics signature including 15 features (first-order intensity statistics features, shape and size-based features, gray level size zone/dependence matrix features) performed well in assessing LTP for both cohorts. With regard to its predictive performance, its C-index was 0.912, compared to the clinical or radiomics models only (c-statistic 0.89 and 0.75, respectively) in the training cohort. In the validation cohort, the radiomics nomogram had better performance (area under the curve = 0.89) compared to the radiomics and clinical models (0.85 and 0.69). According to decision curve analysis, our as-constructed radiomics nomogram showed high clinical utility. As revealed by survival analysis, LTP showed worse progression-free survival (3-year progression-free survival 42.6% vs 78.4%, P < .01). High-risk patients identified using this radiomics signature exhibited worse LTP compared with low-risk patients (3-year LTP 80.2% vs 48.6%, P < .01). A radiomics-based nomogram of pre-ablation computerized tomography imaging may be the precious biomarker model for predicting LTP and personalized risk stratification for recurrent CRLM after hepatic resection treated by MWA.

Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection in Colorectal Cancer with Lymph Node Metastasis: A Systematic Review

The benefits and prognosis of RPLND in CRC have not yet been fully established. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the outcomes for CRC patients with RPLNM undergoing RPLND. A literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, EMCare, and CINAHL identified studies from between January 1990 and June 2022 that reported data on clinical outcomes for patients who underwent RPLND for RPLNM in CRC. The following primary outcome measures were derived: postoperative morbidity, disease free-survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and re-recurrence. Nineteen studies with a total of 541 patients were included. Three hundred and sixty-three patients (67.1%) had synchronous RPLNM and 178 patients (32.9%) had metachronous RPLNM. Perioperative chemotherapy was administered in 496 (91.7%) patients. The median DFS was 8.6-38.0 months and 5-year DFS was 24.4% (10.0-60.5%). The median OS was 25.0-83.0 months and 5-year OS was 47.0% (15.0-87.5%). RPLND is a feasible treatment option with limited morbidity and possible oncological benefit for both synchronous and metachronous RPLNM in CRC. Further prospective clinical trials are required to establish a better evidence base for RPLND in the context of RPLNM in CRC and to understand the timing of RPLND in a multimodality pathway in order to optimise treatment outcomes for this group of patients.

Clinicopathological features and prognostic impact of dirty necrosis in metastatic lung cancers from the colon and rectum

Dirty necrosis (DN) is a form of tumor necrosis (TN) with prominent neutrophil infiltration and cell detritus in the necrotic foci. This study aimed to characterize the clinicopathological features of DN in metastatic lung cancers of the colon and rectum (MLCRs). A total of 227 patients who underwent pulmonary metastasectomy and complete resection for MLCR were included in this study. TN was evaluated using digitally scanned resection specimens. These slides were immunostained for biomarkers of NETosis (citrullinated histone H3 [citH3] and myeloperoxidase [MPO]), and the area positive for citH3 and MPO was further quantified. TN was observed in 216 cases (95.2%), and 54 (25.0%) of these cases had DN. The presence of TN was not associated with a worse prognosis; however, patients with DN had a significantly shorter overall survival than those without DN (p < 0.01). Furthermore, the presence of DN was a poor prognostic factor in both the univariate and multivariate analyses. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the percentage of citH3-positive and MPO-positive areas in the DN-positive cases was significantly higher than that in the DN-negative cases (p < 0.01 and p < 0.01, respectively). In surgically resected MLCR, DN is the characteristic TN subtype associated with poor prognosis and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs).

Lung Metastasectomy from Colorectal Cancer, 10-year Experience in a South American Cancer Center

Purpose

This study aimed to describe the survival outcomes and factors associated with prognosis in patients undergoing pulmonary metastasectomy with colorectal cancer (CRC) in a cancer center in South America.

Material and methods

A retrospective analysis of patients that underwent lung metastasectomy due to CRC at National Cancer Institute (INC), Colombia between 2007 and 2017 was performed and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis along with log-rank test and Cox regression multivariate analysis were completed.

Results

Seventy-five patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma were included in the study. Of them, 57.3% were women with a median age of 62 years [interquartile ranges (IQR): 18.5]. For 45.3% the adenocarcinoma was located in the rectum and 29.3% had stage IV at diagnosis. 56% had a history of controlled extrapulmonary metastasis and 20% of the cases had a history of the metastasis of the liver. The median follow-up was 36.8 months (IQR: 27.4). Three-year and five-year overall survival (OS) was 57.5% [95% confidence interval (CI), 47.0–70.4] and 33.2% (95% CI, 23.4–47.2), respectively. Patients with bilateral, more than one pulmonary metastasis, abnormal postmetastasectomy carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), history of liver metastasis, and disease-free interval (DFI) ≤12 months had worse OS. Three-year and five-year disease-free survival (DFS) was 30.1% (95% CI, 20.8–43.6) and 21.6% (95% CI, 13.0–35.9), respectively. Bilateral, more than one pulmonary metastasis, and patients with stage IV at diagnosis had the worst DFS. Multivariate analysis in the Cox regression model showed that abnormal postmetastasectomy CEA [Hazard Ratio (HR):1.97, 95% CI, 1.01–3.86, p = 0.045] and DFI ≤ 12 months (HR: 3.08, 95% CI, 1.26–7.53, p = 0.014) were independent factors for worst OS.

Conclusions

The OS found falls within the wide range described in the world literature but interestingly it falls at the bottom end of this range. The factors associated with worst survival were identified as bilateral, more than one pulmonary metastasis, abnormal postmetastasectomy CEA, history of liver metastasis, and DFI ≤12 months.

Contribution to the field

Pulmonary metastasectomy is the standard of care in patients with metastatic CRC. However, the literature supporting this conduct is based on retrospective studies and the only randomized controlled trial conducted to date was stopped due to poor recruitment. Limited information is available in South America about survival and factors associated with prognosis in patients with metastatic CRC. While this study is another series that adds to the many studies across the world that describe the use of pulmonary metastasectomy in CRC, it presents critical data as it is one of the few studies carried out in South America. As described in a wide range of world literature, OS found falls in patients that underwent lung metastasectomy due to CRC however; interestingly, in the South American population analyzed here it falls at the bottom end of this range. This may be explained by a large number of patients included with a history of extrapulmonary metastasis as well as may reflect inadequate patient access to reference cancer centers in Colombia. Factors associated with worst survival in our population were bilateral, more than one pulmonary metastasis, abnormal postmetastasectomy CEA, history of liver metastasis, and interval from diagnosis to development of pulmonary metastasis ≤12 months.

A real-world, population-based study for the outcomes of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer to the liver with distant lymph node metastases treated with metastasectomy

Aim: To assess the impact of metastasectomy on survival outcomes of patients with concurrent liver and distant nodal metastases. Materials & methods: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was accessed and patients with colorectal liver metastases (with or without distant lymph node involvement) were reviewed. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were then used to assess the impact of the presence of distant lymph node metastases as well as the impact of metastasectomy on overall and cancer-specific survival. A propensity score matching was then conducted between patients with distant lymph node metastases who had surgery versus those who did not have surgery. Results: A total of 15,325 patients were included in the current analysis including 1603 patients who have liver and distant nodal metastases (10.5%) and 13,722 patients who have liver metastases only (89.5%). The following factors were associated with better overall survival (OS): younger age (hazard ratio [HR] with increasing age: 1.024; 95% CI: 1.022-1.025), white race (HR for African-American race vs white race: 1.233; 95% CI: 1.175-1.295), distal site of the primary (HR: 0.808; 95% CI: 0.778-0.840), absence of distant lymph nodes (HR: 0.697; 95% CI: 0.659-0.737), metastasectomy (HR for no metastasectomy vs metastasectomy: 1.954; 95% CI: 1.858-2.056). Within the postpropensity cohort, metastasectomy was associated with improved OS among patients with concurrent distant lymph node and liver metastases (median OS of 20 vs 11 months; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Metastasectomy seems to be associated with improved survival among patients with concurrent lymph node and liver metastases. It is unclear if improved survival is related to the surgical intervention or to the fact that surgically treated patients have a better baseline general condition and hence improved outcomes.

Reconsideration of recurrence and metastasis in colorectal cancer

To discuss recurrence patterns and their significance in colorectal cancer. Preexisting medical hypotheses and the clinical phenomena of recurrence in colorectal cancer were evaluated and integrated. Colorectal cancer recurrence/ metastasis consists of two types: recurrence from the activation of dormant cancer cells and recurrence from postoperative residual cancer cells. These two recurrences have their own unique mechanisms, biological behaviors, responses to therapy, and prognoses. For type 1 recurrences, surgical resection should be considered. Type 2 recurrences should be managed systematically in addition to surgical resection. The two types of colorectal cancer recurrence should be evaluated and managed separately.

Systematic Review of Treatments for Colorectal Metastases in Elderly Patients to Guide Surveillance Cessation Following Hepatic Resection for Colorectal Liver Metastases

BACKGROUND

Although included in surveillance programmes for colorectal cancer (CRC) metastases, elderly patients are susceptible to declines in health and quality of life that may render them unsuitable for further surveillance. Deciding when to cease surveillance is challenging.

METHODS

There are no publications focused on surveillance of elderly patients for CRC metastases. A systematic review of studies reporting treatment outcomes for CRC metastases in elderly patients was performed to assess the risk-benefit balance of the key objectives of surveillance; detecting and treating CRC metastases.

RESULTS

Sixty-eight eligible studies reported outcomes for surgery and chemotherapy in the elderly. Liver resections and use of chemotherapy, including biologics, are more conservative and have poorer outcomes in the elderly compared with younger patients. Selected studies demonstrated poorer quality-of-life (QoL) following surgery and chemotherapy. Studies of ablation in elderly patients are limited.

DISCUSSION

The survival benefit of treating CRC metastases with surgery or chemotherapy decreases with advancing age and QoL may decline in the elderly. The relatively lower efficacy and detrimental QoL impact of multimodal therapy options for detected CRC metastases in the elderly questions the benefit of surveillance in some elderly patients. Care of elderly patients should thus be customized based on their preference, formal geriatric assessment, natural life-expectancy, and the perceived risk-benefit balance of treating recurrent CRC metastases. Clinicians may consider surveillance cessation in patients aged 75 years and above if geriatric assessment is unsatisfactory, patients decline surveillance, or patient fitness deteriorates catastrophically.

Prognostic value of KRAS mutation in patients undergoing pulmonary metastasectomy for colorectal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The purpose of the study was to evaluate whether KRAS mutation could be an independent prognostic biomarker in patients undergoing pulmonary metastasectomy (PM) for colorectal cancer (CRC).

METHODS

A systemic review was performed by searching online databases to identify studies reporting overall survival (OS) and recurrence free survival (RFS) of CRC patients undergoing PM. Pooled HRs were calculated for OS and RFS.

RESULTS

A total of 15233 patients from 60 studies were included. Pooled analysis showed that KRAS mutation was associated with worse OS (HR: 1.86, 95 % Cl: 1.35-2.57) and RFS (HR: 1.68, 95 % Cl: 1.38-2.04). A significant effect on OS and/or RFS was also shown by other 18 factors.

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis found that KRAS mutation is an important prognostic predictor for OS and RFS in CRC patients undergoing PM, supporting a comprehensive model including clinicopathological and biological factors for optimal patients selection and prognosis for surgical treatment.

A Real-World, Population-Based Analysis of the Outcomes of Colorectal Cancer Patients with Isolated Synchronous Liver or Lung Metastases Treated with Metastasectomy

OBJECTIVE

To assess the survival outcomes among a contemporary cohort of colorectal cancer patients with isolated synchronous liver or lung metastases treated with or without surgical resection of the metastases.

METHODS

Surveillance, epidemiology and end results database has been accessed and cases with isolated liver or lung metastases diagnosed 2010-2015 have been accessed. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were used to compare overall survival among patients who had or had not undergone metastasectomy. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was then used to assess the impact of metastasectomy on colorectal cancer-specific survival.

RESULTS

A total of 16,372 patients with colorectal cancer with isolated liver or lung metastases (M1a disease) were included in the current analysis (including 14,832 patients with isolated liver metastases and 1540 patients with isolated lung metastases). Patients who had undergone surgical resection of liver metastases have better overall survival compared to patients who had not undergone surgical resection of liver metastases (median overall survival: 38.0 months vs. 13.0 months; P < 0.001). Likewise, patients who had undergone surgical resection of lung metastases have better overall survival compared to patients who had not undergone surgical resection of lung metastases (median overall survival: 45.0 months vs. 19.0 months; P < 0.001). In a multivariable Cox regression analysis and among patients with isolated liver metastases, surgery to the metastases was associated with a reduced hazard of death (hazard ratio (HR) 0.567; 95% CI 0.529-0.609; P < 0.001). Likewise, and among patients with isolated lung metastases, surgery to the metastases was associated with a reduced hazard of death (HR 0.482; 95% CI 0.349-0.665; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

In a contemporary cohort, metastasectomy seems to be associated with improvement in overall and cancer-specific survival among patients with isolated synchronous liver or lung metastases from colorectal cancer. Whether this survival difference is totally ascribed to the effect of metastasectomy or it is the fact that patients who were eligible for surgical resection have limited disease extent and better medical profile (thus, leading to better survival) is unclear from such a population-based study.

The Role of Obesity in Early and Long-Term Outcomes after Surgical Excision of Lung Oligometastases from Colorectal Cancer

Obesity correlates with better outcomes in many neoplastic conditions. The aim of this study was to assess its role in the prognosis and morbidity of patients submitted to resection of lung oligometastases from colorectal cancer. Seventy-six patients undergoing a first pulmonary metastasectomy were retrospectively included in the study. Seventeen (22.3%) were obese (body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m²). Assessed outcomes were overall survival, time to recurrence, and incidence of post-operative complications. Median follow-up was 33 months (IQR 16-53). At follow-up, 37 patients (48.6%) died, whereas 39 (51.4%) were alive. A significant difference was found in the 3-year overall survival (obese 80% vs. non-obese 56.8%, p = 0.035). Competing risk analysis shows that the cumulative incidence of recurrence was not different between the two groups. Multivariate analysis reveals that the number of metastases (p = 0.028), post-operative pneumonia (p = 0.042), and DFS (p = 0.007) were significant predictors of death. Competing risk regression shows that no independent risk factor for recurrence has been identified. The complication rate was not different between the two groups (17.6% vs. 13.6%, p = 0.70). Obesity is a positive prognostic factor for survival after pulmonary metastasectomy for colorectal cancer. Overweight patients do not experience more post-operative complications. Our results need to be confirmed by large multicenter studies.

Prognostic significance of spread through air spaces in pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer

OBJECTIVES

Surgical resection for pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer could provide long-term survival in selected patients, and it is commonly performed in practice. However, surgical margin relapse sometimes occurs and is a problematic issue to resolve. Spread through air spaces (STAS) is one of the invasion forms in primary lung cancer and is associated with local recurrence and a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of STAS for pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer and to assess the predictability of STAS with preoperative clinical information.

METHODS

A total of 96 pulmonary metastatic lesions from colorectal cancer in 37 patients who underwent metastasectomy at our institution from January 2008 to December 2013 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

STAS was identified in 41.6 % of the 96 lesions. Surgical margin relapse was found in 8 lesions (8.3 %) from 7 patients (18.9 %). The distance of STAS was identified as an independent risk factor for surgical margin relapse on multivariable analysis (p =  0.033). The patients with STAS showed significantly worse overall survival than those without (5-year overall survival rate: 30.3 % vs. 76.9 %; p =  0.002). On multivariable analysis, patients with STAS had a significantly higher risk of death than those without (p =  0.019). An elevated pre-metastasectomy serum carcinoembryonic antigen level was independently correlated with STAS on multivariable analysis (p =  0.049).

CONCLUSION

STAS was related to a poor prognosis and surgical margin relapse in pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer.

Taiwan Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (TSCRS) Consensus for Cytoreduction Selection in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

BACKGROUND

Taiwan has witnessed a surge in the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC), of which 40-60% metastasize. Continuous updating of cytoreductive strategies in metastatic CRC (mCRC) has contributed to median overall survival reaching 40 months. In this changing scenario, to standardize the approaches across Taiwan, a group of experts from the Taiwan Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (TSCRS) convened to establish evidence- and opinion-based recommendations for defining the criteria of "resectability" in mCRC.

METHODS

Over the course of one-on-one consultations, lasting 30-40 min each, with 30 medical specialists (19 colorectal surgeons, 4 general surgeons, and 7 medical oncologists) from 16 hospitals in Taiwan followed by a 2-h meeting with 8 physician experts (3 general surgeons, 4 colorectal surgeons, and 1 thoracic surgeon), 12 key questions on cytoreduction were addressed. This was further contextualized based on published literature.

RESULTS

The final consensus includes eight recommendations regarding the criteria for metastasis resection, role of local control treatment in liver potentially resectable patients, management of synchronous liver metastases, approach for peritoneal metastasis, place for resection in multiple-organ metastasis, and general criteria for resectability.

CONCLUSIONS

mCRC patients undergoing R0 resection have the greatest survival advantage following surgery. Our role as a multidisciplinary team (MDT) should be to treat potentially resectable mCRC patients as rapidly and safely as possible, and achieve R0 resection as far as possible and for as long as possible (continuum of care). This TSCRS consensus statement aims to help build clinical capacity within the MDTs, while making better use of existing healthcare resources.

Prognosis of patients with recurrence after pulmonary metastasectomy for colorectal cancer

OBJECTIVES

We investigated the prognosis of patients with recurrence of pulmonary metastases (PM) from colorectal cancer (CRC) after resection.

METHODS

We reviewed our surgical series of 101 CRC patients with PM who underwent R0 resection with curative intent. The overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates after metastasectomy as well as the prognostic factors of survival were analyzed.

RESULTS

Fifty-five patients (54%) experienced recurrence, of whom 21 had developed extrapulmonary metastasis (EPM) before lung resection. Multivariate analysis restricted to patients with recurrence identified a disease-free interval (DFI) shorter than a year as an adverse prognosticator of OS (HR, 2.68; 95% CI 1.40-5.51; P < 0.01) and DFS (HR, 8.54; 95% CI 3.0-24.6; P < 0.001). EPM was also identified as an adverse prognosticator of OS for patients with recurrence (HR, 3.16; 95% CI 1.64-5.88; P < 0.001). There was a significant difference in the 5-year OS rate between patients with and without EPM (27.9% vs 64.9%, P < 0.001), and between those with a DFI shorter and longer than a year (40.0% vs 75.0%, P < 0.01). Among these, 31 patients (56%) bore lung-limited recurrence after their first lung resection, of whom 20 (36%) underwent a total of 29 repeat pulmonary metastasectomies, which resulted in a 5-year OS rate of 71.3% after the second lung resection.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that CRC patients with PM whose DFI is shorter than a year after lung resection or those with prior EPM more frequently experience multisite recurrence.

Surgery versus stereotactic radiotherapy for treatment of pulmonary metastases. A systematic review of literature

It is not clear as to which is the best treatment among surgery and stereotactic radiotherapy (SBRT) for lung oligometastases. A systematic review of literature with a priori selection criteria was conducted on articles on the treatment of pulmonary metastases with surgery or SBRT. Only original articles with a population of patients of more than 50 were selected. After final selection, 61 articles on surgical treatment and 18 on SBRT were included. No difference was encountered in short-term survival between pulmonary metastasectomy and SBRT. In the long-term surgery seems to guarantee better survival rates. Mortality and morbidity after treatment are 0–4.7% and 0–23% for surgery, and 0–2% and 4–31% for SBRT. Surgical metastasectomy remains the treatment of choice for pulmonary oligometastases.

Patients with metastatic cancer with a limited number of deposits may benefit from surgical removal or irradiation of tumor nodules in addiction to chemotherapy. Surgical resection has been demonstrated to improve survival and, in some cases, can be curative. Stereotactic radiotherapy is emerging as a less invasive alternative to surgery, but settings and implications of the two treatments are profoundly different. The two techniques show similar results in the short-term, with lower complications rates for radiotherapy, while in the long-term surgery seems to guarantee higher survival rates.

Optimal timing for the resection of pulmonary metastases in patients with colorectal cancer

This study aims to clarify the surgical treatment time of pulmonary metastasis in patients with colorectal cancer.Early relapse after resection of pulmonary metastasis is often encountered when the interval from the detection of pulmonary metastasis to pulmonary metastasectomy was short.In this retrospective analysis, data of patients with colorectal cancer who underwent surgical treatment of pulmonary metastasis at the Gunma Prefectural Cancer Center, Gunma, from April 2001 through September 2018 were evaluated. The patients were divided into 2 groups. We examined the interval period from the diagnosis of pulmonary metastasis to pulmonary metastasectomy. This period was divided into every 3 months, and the prognosis of each group was compared with clarify the appropriate timing of pulmonary metastasectomy.The primary endpoints were 5-year overall survival and recurrence-free survival rates.The most significant difference was observed when the cutoff value was 9 months (5-year recurrence-free survival 45.8% vs 85.6%, P < .01). No significant difference was found in any background factors between the 2 groups. Twenty-five patients (34.7%) experienced recurrence after pulmonary metastasectomy. The most common site of recurrence was the lung (48%). Among the 12 cases of recurrence of pulmonary metastasis, 11 cases belonged to the <9 months group. A multivariable survival analysis found that the interval period of <9 months was a significant predictor of recurrence.Our study suggests that clinical follow-up for 9 months prior pulmonary metastasectomy in colorectal patients would improve the prognosis.

Outcomes and prognostic factors after pulmonary metastasectomy in patients with colorectal cancer with previously resected hepatic metastases

OBJECTIVES

Outcomes and prognostic factors remain obscure in patients with colorectal cancer after pulmonary metastasectomy who had previously received a curative hepatic metastasectomy.

METHODS

We collected data of 757 patients with pulmonary metastasis from colorectal cancer who underwent curative metastasectomy between 2004 and 2008 from 46 Japanese institutions, from which we extracted data on patients who previously received curative hepatic metastasectomy. Disease-free survival, overall survival, and prognostic factors were analyzed.

RESULTS

The subjects of this study were 160 patients, of whom 44% had primary rectal tumor, 73% had a single pulmonary metastasis, 11% had a bilateral pulmonary metastasis, and 39% had high (>5 ng/mL) serum carcinoembryonic antigen. Patients' median age was 66 years, and 58% were male. The median follow-up was 64 months. Five-year overall survival and disease-free survival were 65.2% (95% confidence interval, 56.8-72.5) and 33.5% (95% confidence interval, 26.1-41.0), respectively. In multivariable analyses, high prethoracotomy carcinoembryonic antigen level was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (hazard ratio, 2.01; 95% confidence interval, 1.16-3.47) and disease-free survival (hazard ratio, 2.10; 95% confidence interval, 1.41-3.12). Five-year overall survival and disease-free survival of patients with normal prethoracotomy carcinoembryonic antigen level were 76.4% (95% confidence interval, 66.1-83.9) and 40.7% (95% confidence interval, 30.5-50.5), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

After pulmonary metastasectomy, approximately two thirds of patients with colorectal cancer with a history of curative hepatic metastasectomy survived for 5 years-half of them disease-free. Our results indicate that patients with colorectal cancer with pulmonary metastasis and a history of curative hepatic metastasectomy may benefit from sequential pulmonary metastasectomy, especially if prethoracotomy serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels are within normal range.

Repeated Resections of Hepatic and Pulmonary Metastases from Colorectal Cancer Provide Long-Term Survival

BACKGROUND

Liver and lungs are the two most frequent sites of metastatic spread of colorectal cancer (CRC). Complete resection of liver and/or lung metastases is the only chance of cure, and several studies have reported an improved survival after an aggressive treatment. Nevertheless, CRC liver metastases (CLM) have been recognized as a pejorative factor for patients undergoing pulmonary metastasectomy. We report our experience with patients successively operated on for CRC hepatic and pulmonary metastasis (CPM) and seek to identify prognostic factors.

METHODS

All consecutive patients who had resection of CPM and CLM between 2001 and 2014 were enrolled in the study. Clinicopathological and survival data were retrospectively analysed.

RESULTS

Forty-six patients underwent resections of both CLM and CPM. Hepatic resection preceded pulmonary resection in most cases (91.3%). The median intervals between the resection of the primary tumour and the hepatic recurrence and between hepatic and pulmonary recurrences were 12 months [0-72] and 21.5 months [1-84], respectively. The mortality rate following CPM resection was 4.3%. After a median follow-up of 41.5 months [0-126], 35 patients recurred of whom 14 (40%) and 11(31.4%) could benefit from repeated resection of recurrent CLM and CPM, respectively. The median and 5-year overall survivals (OS) were 53 months and 49%, respectively. No prognostic factor was identified.

CONCLUSION

An aggressive management of CLM and CPM, including repeated resections, may provide a long-term survival comparable to survival of patients with unique metastasectomy. The absence of prognostic factor may reflect the highly selected pattern of the eligible patients.

Surgical treatment of pulmonary metastasis in colorectal cancer patients: Current practice and results

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a frequently occurring disease, yet diagnosed at a local stage in only 40% of cases. Lung metastases (LM) appear in 5-15% of patients and, left untreated, carry a very poor prognosis. Some CRC patients may benefit from a potentially curative LM resection, but success and benefit are difficult to predict. We discuss prognostic factors of survival after lung metastasectomy in CRC patients under several scenarios (with/ without prior liver metastases; repetitive pulmonary resections). We reviewed all studies (2005-2015) about pulmonary metastases surgical management with curative intent in CRC patients, with a minimum threshold on the number of patients reported (without prior liver metastases: n ≥ 100; with prior resection of liver metastases: n ≥ 50; repetitive thoracic surgery: n ≥ 30). The picture of the prognostic factors of survival is nuanced: surgical management demonstrates clear successes and steady progress, yet there is no single success criterion; stratification of patients and selection bias impact the conclusions. Surgical management of liver and lung metastases may prolong life or cure CRC patients, provided the lesions are fully resected and patients carefully selected. Repeat lung metastasectomy is a safe approach to treat patients in selected cases. In conclusion, there is no standard for surgical management in CRC patients with pulmonary metastases. Patients with isolated unilateral lung metastasis with normal CEA level and no lymph node involvement benefit the most from surgery. Most series report good results in highly selected patients, but instances of long-term disease-free survival remain exceptional.

Pulmonary Metastasis After Resection of Cholangiocarcinoma: Incidence, Resectability, and Survival

BACKGROUND

There are few reports on pulmonary metastasis from cholangiocarcinoma; therefore, its incidence, resectability, and survival are unclear.

METHODS

Patients who underwent surgical resection for cholangiocarcinoma, including intrahepatic, perihilar, and distal cholangiocarcinoma were retrospectively reviewed, and this study focused on patients with pulmonary metastasis.

RESULTS

Between January 2003 and December 2014, 681 patients underwent surgical resection for cholangiocarcinoma. Of these, 407 patients experienced disease recurrence, including 46 (11.3%) who developed pulmonary metastasis. Of these 46 patients, 9 underwent resection for pulmonary metastasis; no resection was performed in the remaining 37 patients. R0 resection was achieved in all patients, and no complications related to pulmonary metastasectomy were observed. The median time to recurrence was significantly longer in the 9 patients who underwent surgery than in the 37 patients without surgery (2.5 vs 1.0 years, p < 0.010). Survival after surgery for primary cancer and survival after recurrence were significantly better in the former group than in the latter group (after primary cancer: 66.7 vs 0% at 5 years, p < 0.001; after recurrence: 40.0 vs 8.7% at 3 years, p = 0.003). Multivariate analysis identified the time to recurrence and resection for pulmonary metastasis as independent prognostic factors for survival after recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Resection for pulmonary metastasis originating from cholangiocarcinoma can be safely performed and confers survival benefits for select patients, especially those with a longer time to recurrence after initial surgery.

Surgical Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Surgical treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer offers a chance for cure or prolonged survival, particularly for those with more favorable prognostic factors and limited tumor burden. The treatment plan requires multidisciplinary evaluation because multiple therapy options exist. Advanced surgical techniques, adjuncts to resection, and modern chemotherapy all contribute to best outcomes for patients with hepatic metastases. Although cure is less common for patients with metastasis to lung or peritoneum, surgical resection for the former and cytoreduction and intraperitoneal chemotherapy for the latter may help to achieve cancer control in selected patients.

Surgical management of lung metastases

Management of pulmonary metastases has evolved considerably over the last few decades but is still controversial. The surgical management of lung metastases is outlined, discussing the preoperative management, indications for surgery, the surgical approach and outcomes according to the primary histology.

Surgical Outcome and Prognostic Stratification for Pulmonary Metastasis From Colorectal Cancer

BACKGROUND

This study investigated recent clinical outcomes and prognostic factors of metastasectomy for pulmonary metastasis (PM) from colorectal cancer.

METHODS

Data for 785 patients with PM from colorectal cancer who underwent curative resection, including 376 patients treated with postmetastasectomy adjuvant chemotherapy, between 2004 and 2008, were collected from 46 Japanese hospitals. Disease-free and overall survival was analyzed. Potential prognostic factors were assessed.

RESULTS

The 5-year disease-free and overall survival rates (95% confidence interval) of all patients were 37.1% (33.7% to 40.9%) and 68.1% (64.6% to 71.8%), respectively, over a median follow-up of 65 months. On multivariable analysis, no survival benefit for postmetastasectomy adjuvant chemotherapy was observed (hazard ratio, 0.85; 95% confidence interval, 0.65 to 1.12; p = 0.25), and the independent poor prognostic factors for overall survival (hazard ratio, 95% confidence interval) were age 70 years and older (1.50, 1.15 to 1.97), disease-free interval of less than 2 years (1.76, 1.31 to 2.35), extrathoracic metastatic lesion treated curatively before PM resection (1.35, 1.01 to 1.79), abnormal carcinoembryonic antigen level (1.99, 1.53 to 2.58), and three or more PMs (1.72, 1.20 to 2.45). The 5-year overall survival rates (95% confidence interval) of the low-risk (no prognostic factor, n = 87), moderate-risk (1 to 2 factors, n = 539), and high-risk (≥3 factors, n = 159) groups were 89.4% (82.2% to 98.2%), 72.5% (68.3% to 76.8%), and 48.9% (41.7% to 57.3%), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Metastasectomy of PM from colorectal cancer was associated with a favorable prognosis. Patients could be classified into three risk groups using five prognostic factors. This grouping may be useful for identifying an optimal treatment strategy according to risk in future studies.

Surgical resection of synchronous and metachronous lung and liver metastases of colorectal cancers

PURPOSE

Surgical resection of isolated hepatic or pulmonary metastases of colorectal cancer is an established procedure, with a 5-year survival rate of about 50%. However, the role of surgical resections in patients with both hepatic and pulmonary metastases is not well established. We aimed to analyze overall survival of these patients and associated factors.

METHODS

Data retrospectively collected from 66 patients who underwent both hepatic and pulmonary metastasectomy after colorectal cancer surgery from August 2002 through August 2013 were analyzed. In univariate analysis, the log-rank test compared patient survival between groups. P < 0.1 was considered indicative of significance. Multivariate analysis of the significance data using a Cox proportional hazard model identified factors associated with overall survival. The synchronous group (n = 57) was defined as patients who had metastasectomy within 3 months from primary colorectal cancer surgery. The remaining nine patients constituted the metachronous group.

RESULTS

Median follow-up was 126 months from the primary colorectal cancer surgery. The 5-year survival was 73.4%. There was no difference in overall survival between the synchronous and metachronous groups, consistent with previous studies. Distribution (involving one hemiliver or both, P = 0.010 in multivariate analysis) of liver metastases and multiplicity of the pulmonary metastasis (P = 0.039) were predictors of poor prognosis.

CONCLUSION

Sequential or simultaneous resection of both hepatic and pulmonary metastasis of colorectal cancer resulted in good long-term survival in selected patients. Thus, an aggressive surgical approach and multidisciplinary decision making with surgeons seems to be justified.

C-reactive protein (CRP) as a prognostic factor for colorectal cancer after surgical resection of pulmonary metastases

INTRODUCTION

Pulmonary metastases occur in up to 25% of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Many studies have reported that pulmonary metastasectomy might increase 5-year survival of these patients. The aim of this study was to describe our experience with pulmonary metastasectomy for metastatic colorectal cancer and to explore the prognostic value of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and other factors.

METHODS

Between June 2002 and December 2013, the clinicopathological data of 88 patients who underwent resection of pulmonary metastases from colorectal carcinoma were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Clinical, investigative and operative data were prospectively collected. Overall survival (OS) was calculated from resection of pulmonary metastases to death.

RESULTS

There were 58 men and 30 women in this study, and their median age was 55 (range 31 to 85). Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) was performed in 59 cases (78%) and 29 patients (19%) underwent thoracotomy. Lung wedge resection and pulmonary lobectomy were performed in 52 (59.1%) and 36 patients (40.9%), respectively. Preoperative elevated CRP was present in 8 (9.1%) patients. After a median follow-up duration of 44 months, the cumulative 5-year survival was 45.4% and the median overall survival (OS) was 57.8 months. A significantly longer survival was observed in patients with normal preoperative CRP level compared with those with CRP level exceeding 10mg/L (62.6 months vs. 34.3 months, P=0.011). In multivariate analysis, preoperative CRP level was found to be independent significant prognostic factors for survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Pulmonary resection of metastatic colorectal cancer might offer a chance to prolong survival including those patients with extrapulmonary metastasis. Preoperative serum CRP level was identified as prognosis-related factor for surgery.

Survival after pulmonary metastasectomy in colorectal cancer patients: does a history of resected liver metastases worsen the prognosis? A literature review

Objective

: To assess the impact of past liver metastases on the survival duration of patients who are undergoing surgery for lung metastases.

Methods

: We conducted a review of literature published from 2007 to 2014. The studies were identified by searching PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase and were supplemented by a manual search of the references listed by the retrieved studies. The following search terms were used: lung metastasectomy, pulmonary metastasectomy, lung metastases, and lung metastasis. We selected retrospective and prospective studies published from 2007 to 2014 on patients with lung metastases from colorectal cancer and were undergoing surgery with curative intent. We excluded reviews, studies that focused on surgical techniques, patients who were treated non-surgically, analyses of specific subgroups of patients, and those that did not report follow-up of the patients undergoing surgery.

Results

: We identified 28 papers that assessed survival after lung metastases, 21 of which were mostly retrospective studies that identified previous liver metastases to explore their impact on patient survival. In more than half of the papers analyzed (63.2%), patients with a history of resected liver metastases had a lower survival rate than those who did not have such a history, and the difference was statistically significant in eight of these studies. However, data were presented differently, and authors reported mean survival time, survival rates, or hazard ratios.

Conclusions

: A history of liver metastases seems to be a negative prognostic factor, but the individual data need to undergo a meta-analysis.

Prognostic value of p53 for colorectal cancer after surgical resection of pulmonary metastases

Background

Pulmonary metastases occur in up to 25% of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Many studies have reported that pulmonary metastasectomy might increase 5-year survival of these patients. The aim of this study was to describe our experience with pulmonary metastasectomy for metastatic colorectal cancer and to explore the prognostic value of p53 overexpression and other factors.

Methods

Between July 2002 and December 2013, the clinicopathological data of 88 patients with colorectal carcinoma who underwent pulmonary metastases resection were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Clinical, biochemical and imaging, and operative data, and expression of p53 were retrospectively collected. Immunohistochemical staining for p53 was performed on paraffin-embedded 5-μm sections using mouse anti-human tumor protein p53 monoclonal antibody (DO-7, Dako, Denmark). Overall survival (OS) was calculated from resection of pulmonary metastases to death. The prognostic effect of each variable on survival was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. For the multivariate analysis of prognostic factors, the Cox regression model was used.

Results

There were 58 men and 30 women in this study, and their median age was 55 (range 31 to 85). Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) was performed in 59 cases (78%), and 29 patients (19%) underwent thoracotomy. Lung wedge resection and pulmonary lobectomy were performed in 52 (59.1%) and 36 (40.9%) patients, respectively. After a median follow-up duration of 44 months, the cumulative 5-year survival was 45.4%, and the median overall survival was 57.8 months. The expression of p53 significantly influenced survival. In patients with p53 protein overexpression, we observed a median OS of 46.1 months, whereas the median OS of patients with negative protein expression of p53 was 62.6 months (p = 0.047). However, in multivariate analysis, p53 overexpression was failed to be an independently significant prognostic factor for survival.

Conclusions

Pulmonary resection of metastatic colorectal cancer might offer a chance to prolong survival including those patients with extrapulmonary metastases. p53 protein expression was identified as a prognosis-related factor for surgery.

[Liver and lung metastases of colorectal cancer. Long-term survival and prognostic factors]

INTRODUCTION

The resection of liver and lung metastases from colorectal cancer has not yet been completely investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the overall survival and prognostic factors for patients with liver and lung metastases from colorectal cancer.

METHODS

A retrospective review of a prospective database of 52 patients with liver and lung metastases from colorectal cancer, undergoing metastasectomy with curative intent from 1999-2009 at a single institution was carried out.

RESULTS

The mean overall survival (OS) was 64 months. For synchronous liver and lung metastases the mean overall survival was 63 months (5-year survival 54 %) and for metachronous liver and lung metastases 74 months (5-year survival 58 %, p = 0.451). A poor prognostic outcome was observed in cases of localization of the primary tumor in the rectum (OS 81 vs. 38 months, p = 0.004), with multiple lung metastases (≥ 2 metastases, OS 74 vs. 59 months, p = 0.032) and with disease progression after premetastasectomy chemotherapy (OS 74 vs. 63 vs. 15 months, p < 0.001). No influence on overall survival was detected for bilateral lung metastases, thoracic lymph node metastases, disease recurrence and disease-free interval < 36 months.

CONCLUSION

Metastasectomy for liver and lung metastases of colorectal cancer is associated with a good overall survival in selected cases. Patients with liver and lung metastases should not be routinely excluded from metastasectomy and patients with thoracic lymph node metastases should also not be routinely excluded. Negative prognostic factors for survival are localization of the tumor in the rectum, multiple metastases and disease progression after premetastasectomy chemotherapy. Patients with disease progression after premetastasectomy chemotherapy should be excluded from metastasectomy.

Insurance Status and Hospital Payer Mix Are Linked With Variation in Metastatic Site Resection in Patients With Advanced Colorectal Cancers

BACKGROUND

Despite substantially improved survival with metastatic site resection in colorectal cancers, uptake of aggressive surgical approaches remains low among certain patients. It is unknown whether financial determinants of care, such as insurance status, play a role in this treatment gap.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to evaluate the effect of insurance status on metastasectomy in patients with advanced colorectal cancers.

DESIGN

This was a retrospective cohort study.

SETTINGS

Using the National Cancer Data Base Participant User File, incident cases of colorectal cancer metastatic to the lung and/or liver with diagnosis from 2010 to 2013 were identified.

PATIENTS

We identified 42,300 patients in our cohort with a mean age 64 years.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Controlling for patient, tumor, and hospital characteristics, hierarchical regression was used to examine associations between hospital payer mix and metastatic site resection. Metastatic site resection occurred in 12.3% of all patients.

RESULTS

Adjusting for patient and hospital fixed effects, we found that patients who were uninsured or on Medicaid were 38% less likely to undergo metastasectomy (OR = 0.62 (95% CI, 0.56-0.66)). Patients in hospitals with staff treating a high percentage of uninsured patients or patients with Medicaid were less likely to undergo metastasectomy, even after controlling for individual patient insurance status.

LIMITATIONS

The study was limited by its retrospective design and the granularity and accuracy of the National Cancer Data Base.

CONCLUSIONS

Differences in insurance status and hospital payer mix are associated with differences in rates of metastatic site resection in patients with colorectal cancer that is metastatic to the lung and/or liver. There is a need for improved access to metastatic site resection for individual patients who are uninsured or who have Medicaid insurance, as well as for all patients who seek care at hospitals treating a large proportion of patients who are uninsured or on Medicaid. Remedies for individual patients could include improved access to private insurance through employment or individual plans or improved reimbursement from Medicaid for this procedure. Strategies for patients at low-performing hospitals include selective referral to centers that perform mestastectomy more frequently when appropriate.

Prognostic factors after pulmonary metastasectomy of colorectal cancers: influence of liver metastasis

Background

Our objective was to evaluate the influence of liver metastasis on survival after pulmonary metastasectomy in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed a total of 524 patients and were classified into two groups based on the presence of liver metastasis. Group HM + PM (n = 106) included patients who previously received a hepatic metastasectomy and then received pulmonary metastasectomy. Group PM (n = 418) included patients who only received pulmonary metastasectomy with no liver metastasis.

Results

There were more male patients (70 vs. 57 %; P = 0.02) and more patients with colon cancer (60 vs. 42 %, P = 0.001) in group HM + PM than in group PM. Otherwise, there was no significant difference between the two groups in clinicopathologic characteristics and extent of surgery. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 58 and 31 %, respectively. There was no significant difference in OS (group HM + PM, 54 % vs. group PM, 59 %; P = 0.085) and in DFS (group HM + PM, 28 % vs. group PM, 32 %; P = 0.12). For the entire patient cohort, a multivariate analysis revealed that the presence of liver metastasis, CRC T and N stages, disease-free interval, and number and size of lung metastases were significantly associated with OS and DFS.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that previous or present liver metastasis should not exclude a patient from pulmonary metastasectomy. When lung metastasis is detected in patients with a history of hepatic metastasectomy, pulmonary metastasectomy is still a viable treatment option especially in patients with a long disease-free interval and a small number of lung metastases.

Clinical practice guidelines for the management of metastatic colorectal cancer: a consensus statement of the Hellenic Society of Medical Oncologists (HeSMO)

There is discrepancy and failure to adhere to current international guidelines for the management of metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) in hospitals in Greece and Cyprus. The aim of the present document is to provide a consensus on the multidisciplinary management of metastastic CRC, considering both special characteristics of our Healthcare System and international guidelines. Following discussion and online communication among the members of an executive team chosen by the Hellenic Society of Medical Oncology (HeSMO), a consensus for metastastic CRC disease was developed. Statements were subjected to the Delphi methodology on two voting rounds by invited multidisciplinary international experts on CRC. Statements reaching level of agreement by ≥80% were considered as having achieved large consensus, whereas statements reaching 60-80% moderate consensus. One hundred and nine statements were developed. Ninety experts voted for those statements. The median rate of abstain per statement was 18.5% (range: 0-54%). In the end of the process, all statements achieved a large consensus. The importance of centralization, care by a multidisciplinary team, adherence to guidelines, and personalization is emphasized. R0 resection is the only intervention that may offer substantial improvement in the oncological outcomes.

[Surgery for pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer: Predictive factors for survival]

INTRODUCTION

Colorectal cancer is the 3rd commonest cause of death from cancer: 5% of patients will develop lung metastases. The management of oligometastatic disease is based on the objective of optimal local control.

STATE OF THE ART

To date, no results from randomized control trials support the resection of pulmonary metastases in oligometastastic colorectal cancer patients. However, numerous series, mainly retrospective, report long-term survival for highly selected patients, with 5-year survival ranging from 45 to 65% in the most recent series. The consensual predictive factors of a good prognosis are: a disease free-interval>36 months, a number of metastases≤3, a normal level of carcino-embryonic antigen and the absence of hilar or mediastinal lymph node involvement.

PERSPECTIVES

Around 20 to 40% of patients will develop recurrence, probably linked to the presence of undetectable micrometastases. Therefore, experimental work is being undertaken to develop new treatment techniques such as isolated lung perfusion, radiofrequency ablation and stereotactic radiation therapy.

CONCLUSION

Highly selected patients suffering from colorectal cancer lung metastases could benefit from resection with improved survival and disease-control.

Benefit of Adjuvant Chemotherapy After Curative Resection of Lung Metastasis in Colorectal Cancer

BACKGROUND

The survival benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy after colorectal cancer (CRC) lung metastasectomy is uncertain.

METHODS

We enrolled 221 CRC patients who underwent pulmonary metastasectomy between October 2002 and July 2013, including those with previous liver metastasis that had been curatively resected. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated from the day of lung metastasectomy.

RESULTS

Among all patients, 176 (79.6%) received adjuvant chemotherapy after lung metastasectomy. Median follow-up was 34.7 months from the time of lung metastasectomy [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 7.4-90.9 months]. Patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy had longer DFS compared with surgery alone (median 32.7 vs 11.2 months respectively, P = 0.076). Multivariate analysis revealed previous liver metastasis, preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen ≥5 ng/mL, disease-free interval <24 months, and surgery without adjuvant chemotherapy as independent risk factors for recurrence. Low-risk patients who had 0-1 risk factors received a significant survival benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy [hazard ratio (HR) 0.54; 95% CI 0.32-0.91, P = 0.020]; however, high-risk patients with ≥2 risk factors did not (HR 1.02; 95% CI 0.48-2.14, P = 0.964). Patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy showed no OS benefit compared with patients who received surgery alone (median 89.6 vs 86.8 months respectively, P = 0.833).

CONCLUSIONS

CRC patients received lung metastasectomy could have a DFS benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy, especially in low-risk patients. Larger, prospective studies are needed to evaluate the role of adjuvant chemotherapy after CRC lung metastasectomy.

Increased lymphangiogenesis in lung metastases from colorectal cancer is associated with early lymph node recurrence and decreased overall survival

Pulmonary metastasectomy (PM) is an accepted treatment modality in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with pulmonary tumor spread. Positive intrathoracic lymph nodes at the time of PM are associated with a poor prognosis and 5-year survival rates of <20 %. Increased lymphangiogenesis in pulmonary metastases might represent an initial step for a subsequent lymphangiogenic spreading. We aimed to evaluate the presence of lymphangiogenesis in clinically lymph node negative patients undergoing PM and its impact on outcome parameters. 71 patients who underwent PM for CRC metastases were included in this dual-center study. Tissue specimens of pulmonary metastases and available corresponding primary tumors were assessed by immunohistochemistry for lymphatic microvessel density (LMVD) and lymphovascular invasion (LVI). Results were correlated with clinical outcome parameters. LMVD was 13.9 ± 8.1 and 13.3 ± 8.5 microvessels/field (mean ± SD) in metastases and corresponding primary CRC; LVI was evident in 46.5 and 58.6 % of metastases and corresponding primary CRC, respectively. Samples with high LMVD had a higher likelihood of LVI. LVI was associated with early tumor recurrence in intrathoracic lymph nodes and a decreased overall survival (p < 0.001 and p = 0.029). Herein, we present first evidence in a well-defined patient collective that increased lymphangiogenesis is already present in a subtype of pulmonary metastases of patients staged as N0 at the time of PM. This lymphangiogenic phenotype has a strong impact on patients' prognosis. Our findings may have impact on the post-surgical therapeutic management of CRC patients with pulmonary spreading.

KRAS and BRAF mutations are prognostic biomarkers in patients undergoing lung metastasectomy of colorectal cancer

Background:

We evaluated KRAS (mKRAS (mutant KRAS)) and BRAF (mBRAF (mutant BRAF)) mutations to determine their prognostic potential in assessing patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) for lung metastasectomy.

Methods:

Data were reviewed from 180 patients with a diagnosis of CRC who underwent a lung metastasectomy between January 1998 and December 2011.

Results:

Molecular analysis revealed mKRAS in 93 patients (51.7%), mBRAF in 19 patients (10.6%). In univariate analyses, overall survival (OS) was influenced by thoracic nodal status (median OS: 98 months for pN−, 27 months for pN+, P<0.0001), multiple thoracic metastases (75 months vs 101 months, P=0.008) or a history of liver metastases (94 months vs 101 months, P=0.04). mBRAF had a significantly worse OS than mKRAS and wild type (WT) (P<0.0001). The 5-year OS was 0% for mBRAF, 44% for mKRAS and 100% for WT, with corresponding median OS of 15, 55 and 98 months, respectively (P<0.0001). In multivariate analysis, WT BRAF (HR: 0.005 (95% CI: 0.001–0.02), P<0.0001) and WT KRAS (HR: 0.04 (95% CI: 0.02–0.1), P<0.0001) had a significant impact on OS.

Conclusions:

mKRAS and mBRAF seem to be prognostic factors in patients with CRC who undergo lung metastasectomy. Further studies are necessary.

Surgical management of patients with colorectal cancer and simultaneous liver and lung metastases

Background

The management of patients with colorectal cancer and simultaneously diagnosed liver and lung metastases (SLLM) remains controversial.

Methods

The LiverMetSurvey registry was interrogated for patients treated between 2000 and 2012 to assess outcomes after resection of SLLM, and the factors associated with survival. SLLM was defined as liver and lung metastases diagnosed 3 months or less apart. Survival was compared between patients with resected isolated liver metastases (group 1, control), those with resected liver and lung metastases (group 2), and patients with resected liver metastases and unresected (or unresectable) lung metastases (group 3). An Akaike test was used to select variables for assessment of survival adjusted for confounding variables.

Results

Group 1 (isolated liver metastases, hepatic resection alone) included 9185 patients, group 2 (resection of liver and lung metastases) 149 patients, and group 3 (resection of liver metastases, no resection of lung metastases) 285 patients. Ten variables differed significantly between groups and seven were included in the model for adjusted survival (age, number of liver metastases, synchronicity of liver metastases with primary tumour, carcinoembryonic antigen level, node status of the primary tumour, initial resectability of liver metastases and inclusion in group 3). Adjusted overall 5-year survival was similar for groups 1 and 2 (51·5 and 44·5 per cent respectively), but worse for group 3 (14·3 per cent) (P = 0·001).

Conclusion

Patients who had resection of liver and lung metastases had similar overall survival to those who had undergone removal of isolated liver metastases.

Outcome after liver resection in patients presenting with simultaneous hepatopulmonary colorectal metastases

BACKGROUND

The most common sites of metastasis from colorectal cancer (CRC) are hepatic and pulmonary; they can present simultaneously (hepatic and pulmonary metastases) or sequentially (hepatic then pulmonary metastases, or vice versa). Simultaneous disease may be aggressive, and thus may be approached with caution by the clinician. The aim of this study was to determine the outcomes following hepatic and pulmonary resection for simultaneously presenting metastatic CRC.

METHODS

A retrospective review was undertaken of a prospectively maintained database to identify patients presenting with simultaneous hepatopulmonary disease who underwent hepatic resection. Patients' electronic records were used to identify clinicopathological variables. The log rank test was used to determine survival, and χ(2) analysis to determine predictors of failure of intended treatment.

RESULTS

Fifty-nine patients were identified and underwent hepatic resection; median survival was 45·4 months and the 5-year survival rate 38 per cent. Twenty-two patients (37 per cent) did not have the intended pulmonary intervention owing to progression or recurrence of disease. Thirty-seven patients who progressed to hepatopulmonary resection had a median survival of 54·2 months (5-year survival rate 43 per cent). Those who had hepatic resection alone had a median survival of 24·0 months (5-year survival rate 30 per cent). Failure to progress to pulmonary resection was predicted by heavy nodal burden of primary colorectal disease and bilobar hepatic metastases. Redo pulmonary surgery following pulmonary recurrence did not confer a survival benefit.

CONCLUSION

Selected patients with simultaneous hepatopulmonary CRC metastases should be considered for attempted curative resection, but some patients may not receive the intended treatment owing to progression of pulmonary disease after hepatic resection.

Long-term outcomes after surgical resection of pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Surgical resection has been widely performed on patients with pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer with favorable outcomes. However, there are currently no standard surgical indications for pulmonary metastases.

METHODS

We reviewed 94 patients who underwent complete resection of pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer between November 1991 and April 2013. The cumulative survival rate after pulmonary metastasectomy was calculated, and prognostic factors for long-term survival were analyzed.

RESULTS

There were 60 men and 34 women, and their median age was 66 years. The 5-year survival rate was 45.5% after pulmonary metastasectomy. The 5-year survival of patients with colon and rectal cancers was 62.4% and 33.8%, respectively (p = 0.030), and the 5-year survival of those with normal and high carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels before pulmonary resection was 57.0% and 30.9%, respectively (p = 0.038). Multivariate analysis revealed the preoperative CEA level was an independent prognostic factor. Recurrence was identified in 65 of the 94 patients (69.1%) after pulmonary metastasectomy, and the patients who underwent surgical resection for recurrent lesions in the liver or lungs, or both, had better survival than those who received other treatments or palliative care.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical resection offers a chance to prolong survival in colorectal cancer patients with resectable pulmonary metastases. Owing to the high recurrence rate, careful postoperative follow-up for early detection is recommended, and even for recurrence, surgical resection should be considered for better survival if the lesions are limited to the liver or lungs, or both.

Surgical resection of pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer: Efficacy and prognostic factors

AIM: To assess the efficacy and prognostic factors for surgical resection of pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer.

METHODS: Forty patients underwent surgical resection of pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer at our hospital between May 1996 and March 2012. Data of follow-up till June 30, 2013 were obtained. The disease-free interval, progression-free survival and overall survival were used for survival analysis. Records of general information, operation mode and history were analyzed.

RESULTS: The median overall survival time was 36.5 (4.0-159.0) mo, and the 5-year survival rate was 37%. Location of primary tumor, chemotherapy, preoperative CEA level and tumor TNM stage were significantly related with the survival of patients after resection of pulmonary metastases (P = 0.012, 0.033, 0.007, 0.008). Multi-factor Cox regression model analysis showed that location of primary tumor and preoperative CEA level were independent risk factors for death (OR = 5.023, 4.332; P = 0.002, 0.017).

CONCLUSION: Pulmonary metastasectomy can significantly improve the survival of patients with pulmonary metastases of colorectal carcinoma, and the prognosis is related with location of primary tumor, chemotherapy, preoperative CEA level and tumor TNM stage, with location of primary tumor and preoperative CEA level being independent risk factors for mortality of patients.

Pulmonary metastasectomy in colorectal cancer patients with previously resected liver metastasis: pooled analysis

BACKGROUND

Data addressing the outcomes and patterns of recurrence after pulmonary metastasectomy (PM) in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and previously resected liver metastasis are limited.

METHODS

We searched the PubMed database for studies assessing PM in CRC and gathered individual data for patients who had PM and a previous curative liver resection. The influence of potential factors on overall survival (OS) was analyzed through univariate and multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

Between 1983 and 2009, 146 patients from five studies underwent PM and had previous liver resection. The median interval from resection of liver metastasis until detection of lung metastasis and the median follow-up from PM were 23 and 48 months, respectively. Five-year OS and recurrence-free survival rates calculated from the date of PM were 54.4 and 29.3 %, respectively. Factors predicting inferior OS in univariate analysis included thoracic lymph node (LN) involvement and size of largest lung nodule ≥2 cm. Adjuvant chemotherapy and whether lung metastasis was detected synchronous or metachronous to liver metastasis had no influence on survival. In multivariate analysis, thoracic LN involvement emerged as the only independent factor (hazard ratio 4.86, 95 % confidence interval 1.56-15.14, p = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

PM offers a chance for long-term survival in selected patients with CRC and previously resected liver metastasis. Thoracic LN involvement predicted poor prognosis; therefore, significant efforts should be undertaken for adequate staging of the mediastinum before PM. In addition, adequate intraoperative LN sampling allows proper prognostic stratification and enrollment in novel adjuvant therapy trials.

The management of the advanced colorectal cancer: management of the pulmonary metastases

Pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer present as systemic manifestation of the disease. As a general principle, the presence of metastases predispose to a poor prognosis. However, the application of some criteria of "operability" permitted the surgical resection resulting in prolonged survival (reported 5-year survival up to 50%), in better quality of life and in the cure of some patients. When the primary tumor site is controlled, and the metastatic disease is limited in lungs without extrapulmonary location (except for resectable or resected hepatic lesion) surgical removal is indicated. As significant prognostic factors in metastasectomies have been reported the synchronous or metachronous caracter of the metastases, the disease free survival, the complete removal of the metastases, the thoracic lymph node invasion, the CEA level before metastasectomy and 1 month after, the solitary vs. multiple pulmonary metastatic locations, the induction chemotherapy, the histological type and differentiation grade, as well as the vascular emboli in histopathological examination. Thorough preoperative evaluation of the patient includes oncological assessment and respiratory functional tests. Alternatively, when the patient is not a good surgical candidate, radiofrequency ablation is an option. Many surgical accesses have been validated, as posterolateral or lateral or even posterior thoracotomy, sternotomy, clamshell incision, and thoracoscopic techniques that offer the advantages of less pain, fast recovery, and less morbidity. Though thoracoscopic metastasectomies have been questioned concerning to the completeness of metastatic removal, no statistical difference in survival has been revealed in many series comparing thoracotomy to thoracoscopic techniques. As a conclusion, there are many advances in the management of pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer during last decade, the results have been essentially optimized, the role of surgery has been established, and the multimodality approach has been recognized as the cornerstone of a successful outcome.