Conventional Two-Stage Hepatectomy or Associating Liver Partitioning and Portal Vein Ligation for Staged Hepatectomy for Colorectal Liver Metastases? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Liver Histology Predicts Liver Regeneration and Outcome in ALPPS: Novel Findings From A Multicenter Study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Alterations in liver histology influence the liver's capacity to regenerate, but the relevance of each of the different changes in rapid liver growth induction is unknown. This study aimed to analyze the influence of the degree of histological alterations during the first and second stages on the ability of the liver to regenerate.

METHODS

This cohort study included data obtained from the International ALPPS Registry between November 2011 and October 2020. Only patients with colorectal liver metastases were included in the study. We developed a histological risk score based on histological changes (stages 1 and 2) and a tumor pathology score based on the histological factors associated with poor tumor prognosis.

RESULTS

In total, 395 patients were included. The time to reach stage 2 was shorter in patients with a low histological risk stage 1 (13 vs 17 days, P ˂0.01), low histological risk stage 2 (13 vs 15 days, P <0.01), and low pathological tumor risk (13 vs 15 days, P <0.01). Regarding interval stage, there was a higher inverse correlation in high histological risk stage 1 group compared to low histological risk 1 group in relation with future liver remnant body weight ( r =-0.1 and r =-0.08, respectively), and future liver remnant ( r =-0.15 and r =-0.06, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

ALPPS is associated with increased histological alterations in the liver parenchyma. It seems that the more histological alterations present and the higher the number of poor prognostic factors in the tumor histology, the longer the time to reach the second stage.

Liver Venous Deprivation for Rapid Liver Hypertrophy Before Major Hepatectomy: A Case Report

Liver venous deprivation (LVD) is an emerging, minimally invasive strategy to induce rapid liver hypertrophy of the future liver remnant (FLR) before a major hepatectomy. LVD (aka "double vein embolization") entails same-session percutaneous embolization of the portal and hepatic veins of the planned liver resection. This report discusses LVD's utilization and technical challenges in managing a 49-year-old male with recurrent multifocal colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). The patient initially underwent neoadjuvant FOLFOX chemotherapy followed by a simultaneous laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy and liver surgery (microwave ablation of segment V and wedge resections of segment one and IVb), followed by completion of chemotherapy. The patient had an R0 resection with clear colon and liver surgical margins. Nine months after the initial surgery, the patient had a rise in tumor markers, and surveillance imaging demonstrated recurrence of liver metastases in segments I and V. LVD was performed by interventional radiology, which led to a 28% increase in FLR (segments II, III, and IV); initially measuring 464 cm3 before LVD and measuring 594 cm3 on post-procedure day 21. The patient underwent right hemi-hepatectomy and caudate resection on post-procedure day 29. The patient did not have any complications and was discharged on postoperative day 6. The patient remains disease-free with no evidence of recurrence at 12 months follow-up.

EORTC 1409 GITCG/ESSO 01 - A prospective colorectal liver metastasis database for borderline or initially unresectable diseases (CLIMB): Lessons learnt from real life. From paradigm to unmet need

AIM

Multidisciplinary management of metastatic colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) is still challenging. To assess postoperative complications in initially unresectable or borderline resectable CRLM, the prospective EORTC-1409 ESSO 01-CLIMB trial capturing 'real-life data' of European centres specialized in liver surgery was initiated.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 219 patients were registered between May 2015 and January 2019 from 15 centres in nine countries. Eligible patients had borderline or initially unresectable CRLM assessed by pre-operative multidisciplinary team discussion (MDT). Primary endpoints were postoperative complications, 30-day and 90-days mortality post-surgery, and quality indicators. We report the final results of the 151 eligible patients that underwent at least one liver surgery.

RESULTS

Perioperative chemotherapy with or without targeted treatment were administered in 100 patients (69.4%). One stage resection (OSR) was performed in 119 patients (78.8%). Two stage resections (TSR, incl. Associating Liver Partition and Portal Vein Ligation for Staged hepatectomy (ALPPS)) were completed in 24 out of 32 patients (75%). Postoperative complications were reported in 55.5% (95% CI: 46.1-64.6%), 64.0% (95% CI: 42.5-82%), and 100% (95% CI: 59-100%) of the patients in OSR, TSR and ALPPS, respectively. Post-hepatectomy liver failure occurred in 6.7%, 20.0%, and 28.6% in OSR, TSR, and ALPPS, respectively. In total, four patients (2.6%) died after surgery.

CONCLUSION

Across nine countries, OSR was more often performed than TSR and tended to result in less postoperative complications. Despite many efforts to register patients across Europe, it is still challenging to set up a prospective CRLM database.

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer Management and Treatment

(1) Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Up to 50% of patients with CRC develop metastatic CRC (mCRC). Surgical and systemic therapy advances can now offer significant survival advantages. Understanding the evolving treatment options is essential for decreasing mCRC mortality. We aim to summarize current evidence and guidelines regarding the management of mCRC to provide utility when making a treatment plan for the heterogenous spectrum of mCRC. (2) Methods: A comprehensive literature search of PubMed and current guidelines written by major cancer and surgical societies were reviewed. The references of the included studies were screened to identify additional studies that were incorporated as appropriate. (3) Results: The standard of care for mCRC primarily consists of surgical resection and systemic therapy. Complete resection of liver, lung, and peritoneal metastases is associated with better disease control and survival. Systemic therapy now includes chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy options that can be tailored by molecular profiling. Differences between colon and rectal metastasis management exist between major guidelines. (4) Conclusions: With the advances in surgical and systemic therapy, as well as a better understanding of tumor biology and the importance of molecular profiling, more patients can anticipate prolonged survival. We provide a summary of available evidence for the management of mCRC, highlighting the similarities and presenting the difference in available literature. Ultimately, a multidisciplinary evaluation of patients with mCRC is crucial to selecting the appropriate pathway.

A single center comparative retrospective study of in situ split plus portal vein ligation versus conventional two-stage hepatectomy for cholangiocellular carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

Cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCA) has a poor prognosis and the goldstandard even in locally advanced cases remains radical surgical resection. This approach however is limited by the future liver remnant volume (FLRV) after extensive parenchymal dissection leading to post-operative liver failure and high mortality rates. The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of in situ liver transection with portal vein ligation (ISLT) procedure and conventional two-stage hepatectomy with portal vein embolization (PVE/TSH) in patients with CCA.

METHODS

All patients with CCA and insufficient FLR considered for either ISLT or PVE/TSH were analyzed for outcomes including post-operative morbidity, mortality, and overall survival rates (OS).

RESULTS

Sixteen patients received ISLT and eight patients underwent PVE/TSH. The completion rate of the second stage in the PVE/TSH group was 62% and 100% in the ISLT group (p = 0.027). The overall 90-day morbidity rates including severe complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥3b) were comparable (PVE/TSH 40% vs. ISLT 69%, p = 0.262). The median OS (PVE/TSH 7 months vs. ISLT 3 months) and the 90-day mortality rates (PVE/TSH 0% vs. ISLT 50%) did not significantly differ between the two groups (p > 0.05). In multivariate analysis, biliary resection and reconstruction was the only risk factor independently associated with 90-day post-operative morbidity [HR = 20.0; 95%CI (1.68-238.63); p = 0.018].

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrate comparable outcomes in both groups in a rather prognostically unfavorable disease. The completion rate in the ISLT group was significantly higher than in the PVE/TSH cohort. This work encourages specialized hepato-biliary-pancreatic centers in applying the ISLT procedure in selected cases with CCA.

Ligation of the middle hepatic vein to increase hypertrophy induction during the ALPPS procedure

PURPOSE

Here, we analyse the technical modification of the ALPPS procedure, ligating the middle hepatic vein during the first step of the operation to enhance remnant liver hypertrophy.

METHODS

In 20 of 37 ALPPS procedures, the middle hepatic vein was ligated during the first step. Hypertrophy of the functional remnant liver volume was assessed in addition to postoperative courses.

RESULTS

Volumetric analysis showed a significant volume increase, especially for patients with colorectal metastases. Pre-existing liver parenchyma damage (odds ratio = 0.717, p = 0.017) and preoperative chemotherapy were found to be significant predictors (odds ratio = 0.803, p = 0.045) of higher morbidity and mortality. In addition, a survival benefit for maintenance of middle hepatic vein was shown.

CONCLUSION

This technical modification of the ALPPS procedure can accentuate future liver remnant volume hypertrophy. The higher morbidity and mortality observed are most likely associated with pre-existing parenchymal damage within this group.

Oncological Outcomes after Liver Venous Deprivation for Colorectal Liver Metastases: A Single Center Experience

Colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) are the major cause of death in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). The cornerstone treatment of CRLM is surgical resection. Post-operative morbidity and mortality are mainly linked to an inadequate future liver remnant (FLR). Nowadays preoperative portal vein embolization (PVE) is the most widely performed technique to increase the size of the future liver remnant (FLR) before major hepatectomies. One method recently proposed to increase the FLR is liver venous deprivation (LVD), but its oncological impact is still unknown. The aim of this study is to report first short- and long-term oncological outcomes after LVD in patients undergoing right (or extended right) hepatectomy for CRLM. Seventeen consecutive patients undergoing LVD between July 2015 and May 2020 before an (extended) right hepatectomy were retrospectively analyzed from an institutional database. Post-operative and follow-up data were analyzed and reported. Primary outcomes were 1-year and 3-year overall survival (OS) and hepatic recurrence (HR). Postoperative complications occurred in 8 patients (47%). No deaths occurred after surgery. HR occurred in 9 patients (52.9%). 1-year and 3-year OS were 87% (95% confidence interval [CI]: ±16%) and 60.3%, respectively (95% CI: ±23%). Median Disease-Free Survival (DFS) was 6 months (CI 95%: 4.7-7.2). With all the limitations of a retrospective study with a small sample size, LVD showed similar oncological outcomes compared to literature reports for Portal Vein Embolization (PVE).