Selective approaches to gastric cancer patients with liver metastases: role of liver-directed chemotherapy

Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy in Gastric Cancer: A Report of Four Cases and Analysis of the Literature

Aims and background

Gastric cancer is associated with high mortality. Although the liver is a common site of metastases in this tumor, the experience with liver-directed therapies is limited.

Methods

We report a single-center experience involving four patients with liver metastases from gastric cancer treated by hepatic arterial infusion (HAI). In addition, we performed a search for reports on HAI in gastric cancer metastatic to the liver and used the studies with data on survival of individual patients for a pooled analysis.

Results

Among three valuable patients, one had a complete response, one had stable disease and one had progressive disease. The patient with complete response is still alive 41 months after the diagnosis of liver metastases, while the other patients died 6, 22 and 31 months after the diagnosis. Objective responses were observed in 48% of the 25 patients in the pooled analysis. Objective response and limited hepatic involvement were independent predictors of survival in these patients.

Conclusions

Although isolated liver involvement in metastatic gastric cancer is rare, HAI seems to be similarly effective in these patients as in patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer. The prognosis is significantly better in gastric cancer patients who have limited hepatic involvement and attain an objective response after HAI.

Risk factors for liver metastases after curative surgical procedures for gastric cancer: a prospective study of 208 patients treated with surgical resection

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of liver metastases after radical surgical treatment for gastric cancer, the potential risk factors involved, and the sensitivity of serum tumor markers during followup.

STUDY DESIGN

A total of 208 patients who had undergone curative resection for primary gastric cancer and a prospective followup protocol were studied. The association between clinicopathologic variables and hepatic recurrence was investigated using standard univariate methods and multivariate Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

Mean followup time (+/- SD) for the entire patient population was 51 +/- 38 months (median 52 months) and was 88 +/- 24 months (median 81 months) for disease-free patients. Recurrence of gastric cancer was documented in 109 of 208 patients (52.4%). Liver metastases were found in 28 of 208 patients (13.5%); in most of these patients (82.1%) diagnosis was made within 2 years after surgical treatment. The estimated cumulative risk of liver metastases after 5 years was 16.4%. Cox regression analysis identified lymph node involvement (adjusted relative risk [RR] = 6.28, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.11 to 18.70, p = 0.001), preoperative positivity for CEA, CA 19-9, or CA 72-4 (RR = 5.18, 95% CI = 1.75 to 15.37, p = 0.003), and intestinal histotype (RR = 3.08, 95% CI = 1.06 to 8.96, p = 0.039) as independent predictors of hepatic recurrence. In 27 of 28 cases hepatic recurrence was associated with an increase in CEA, CA 19-9, or CA 72-4 serum levels above the cutoff, either before or at the time of the clinical diagnosis (sensitivity 96.4%).

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative positivity for serum tumor markers, lymph node involvement, and intestinal histotype are risk factors for liver metastases after radical surgical treatment for gastric cancer. Postoperative measurement of serum tumor markers may be useful for an early diagnosis of hepatic recurrence during followup.

Predictive factors and timing for liver recurrence after curative resection of gastric carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Advanced and reliable diagnostic methods in order to identify the site of recurrence of gastric cancer in an early stage are needed.

METHODS

One hundred twenty patients whose recurrence was confirmed after curative resection for gastric cancer were enrolled in this study.

RESULTS

Liver recurrence was evident in 41 patients. Advanced age, tumor invasion into subserosa, intestinal and mixed type of histology, Borrmann type 0 to 2, tumor diameter (<6.5 cm), and tumor marker (carcinoembryonic antigen and alpha-fetoprotein) elevation were related to liver recurrence. By logistic regression analysis, independent risk factors for liver recurrence included Borrmann's classification, histology, and tumor marker elevation. The median time from the primary operation to liver recurrence was shortest in the tumor marker elevation group when compared with other independent predictors.

CONCLUSIONS

This information may help to design a better follow-up program and appropriate treatment strategy for gastric cancer patients with liver metastasis.