Is carcino-embryonic antigen useful in the follow-up management of patients with colorectal liver metastases?

BACKGROUND: The role of carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) in monitoring early detection of recurrent or metastatic colorectal cancer, and its impact on resectability rate and patient survival remains controversial. Our objective was to determine any association between the preoperative level of CEA and prognosis, and the resectability and survival by method of diagnosis of colorectal hepatic metastases. METHODS: We analyzed patients who underwent exploration for hepatic resection for metastatic colorectal cancer over a 15-year period. The patient population consisted of those patients who had undergone primary colon or rectal resection and were followed up with serial CEA levels and of patients who were followed up with physical examination, liver function tests (LFTs) or computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis that led to the diagnosis of liver metastases. Also included in the study were patients who were diagnosed with liver metastases at the time of the primary colon or rectal resection and underwent planned hepatic resection at a later time. RESULTS: Three hundred and one (301) patients who underwent a total of 345 planned hepatic resections for metastatic colorectal cancer between January 1978 and December 1993 were included in this analysis. The median preoperative CEA level was 24.8 ng/mL in the resected group, 53.0 ng/mL in the incomplete resection group, and 49.1 ng/mL in the nonresected group (P = 0.02). More of the patients who had a preoperative CEA < or =30 ng/mL were in the resected group, while those who had a preoperative CEA >30 ng/mL were likely to be in the nonresected group (P = 0.002). The median survival was 25 months for patients with a preoperative CEA level < or =30 ng/mL and 17 months for patients with a preoperative CEA >30 ng/mL (P = 0.0005). The resectability rate and the survival of patients by method of diagnosing liver metastases-rising CEA versus history and physical, elevated LFTs, CT scan versus diagnosis at the time of primary resection-was not significant (P = 0.06 and P = 0.19, respectively). Given the nonstandardized retrospective nature of the study cohort and relative small groups of patients, the power to detect small differences in survival by method of diagnosis is limited. In the complete resection group of patients with unilobar liver disease (5-year survival of 28.8%) there was no difference in survival between those patients who had normal preoperative CEA and those who had elevated preoperative CEA, and approximately 90% of them had an abnormal preoperative serum CEA level. CONCLUSIONS: CEA is useful in the preoperative evaluation of patients with hepatic colorectal metastases for assessing prognosis and is complimentary to history and physical examination in the diagnosis of liver metastases. Patients with colorectal liver metastases and preoperative CEA < or =30 ng/mL are more likely to be resectable, and they have the longest survival.     

Can elderly patients with colorectal cancer tolerate planned surgical treatment? A practical approach to a common dilemma

Aim  Analysing the effectiveness of a surgical procedure is mandatory in every modern health-care system. The aging of the population stresses the need for a good standard of care. This study tests the hypothesis that porthsmouth-physiologic operative severity score for enumeration of morbidity and mortality (P-POSSUM) and colorectal-POSSUM (CR-POSSUM) would be useful clinical auditing tools in colorectal cancer surgery for aged patients.
Method  One hundred and seventy-seven consecutive patients over 70 years of age underwent emergency or elective surgery from January 2003 to December 2005. Demographic, clinical and surgical information, score systems' prediction, complications and 30-day mortality data were prospectively entered in a comprehensive database. The observed over expected morbidity and mortality rate was calculated.
Results  Thirty-day observed mortality was 10.3% (19/177) while P-POSSUM and CR-POSSUM expected mortality were, respectively, 11.21% ( P  = NS) and 13.08% ( P  = NS). Overall observed morbidity was 42.7%, P-POSSUM prediction was 59.3% ( P  = 0.002). Morbidity and mortality data were analysed for specific subgroups of patients (resection and anastomosis/resection and stoma/palliative; emergency/elective).
Conclusion  P-POSSUM and CR-POSSUM are useful tools to predict mortality in elderly patients. P-POSSUM significantly overestimated the risk of complications. A more accurate tool for preoperative assessment for aged patients is probably needed to predict the post-surgical outcome.     

Does the novel PET/CT imaging modality impact on the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer of the liver?

OBJECTIVE: To compare the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced CT (ceCT) and 2-[18-F]-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose-PET/CT in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer to the liver. BACKGROUND: Despite preoperative evaluation with ceCT, the tumor load in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer to the liver is often underestimated. Positron emission tomography (PET) has been used in combination with the ceCT to improve identification of intra- and extrahepatic tumors in these patients. We compared ceCT and a novel fused PET/CT technique in patients evaluated for liver resection for metastatic colorectal cancer. METHODS: Patients evaluated for resection of liver metastases from colorectal cancer were entered into a prospective database. Each patient received a ceCT and a PET/CT, and both examinations were evaluated independently by a radiologist/nuclear medicine physician without the knowledge of the results of other diagnostic techniques. The sensitivity and the specificity of both tests regarding the detection of intrahepatic tumor load, extra/hepatic metastases, and local recurrence at the colorectal site were determined. The main end point of the study was to assess the impact of the PET/CT findings on the therapeutic strategy. RESULTS: Seventy-six patients with a median age of 63 years were included in the study. ceCT and PET/CT provided comparable findings for the detection of intrahepatic metastases with a sensitivity of 95% and 91%, respectively. However, PET/CT was superior in establishing the diagnosis of intrahepatic recurrences in patients with prior hepatectomy (specificity 50% vs. 100%, P = 0.04). Local recurrences at the primary colo-rectal resection site were detected by ceCT and PET/CT with a sensitivity of 53% and 93%, respectively (P = 0.03). Extrahepatic disease was missed in the ceCT in one third of the cases (sensitivity 64%), whereas PET/CT failed to detect extrahepatic lesions in only 11% of the cases (sensitivity 89%) (P = 0.02). New findings in the PET/CT resulted in a change in the therapeutic strategy in 21% of the patients. CONCLUSION: PET/CT and ceCT provide similar information regarding hepatic metastases of colorectal cancer, whereas PET/CT is superior to ceCT for the detection of recurrent intrahepatic tumors after hepatectomy, extrahepatic metastases, and local recurrence at the site of the initial colorectal surgery. We now routinely perform PET/CT on all patients being evaluated for liver resection for metastatic colorectal cancer.     

Is a proliferation index of cancer cells a reliable prognostic factor after hepatectomy in patients with colorectal liver metastases?

BACKGROUND: In spite of many reports focusing on prognostic factors after hepatectomy in patients with colorectal liver metastases, few studies have investigated pathological factors, eg, fibrous pseudocapsulation, growth pattern at the tumor margin, and proliferation activity of cancer cells, other than histological type and surgical margin. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether absence of pseudocapsulation, infiltrative growth pattern of metastases, and higher proliferation of cancer cells shown by Ki-67 immunohistochemical reactivity were associated with poorer survival after hepatectomy among patients with colorectal liver metastases. METHODS: Between 1988 and 1998, 221 patients underwent hepatic resection of colorectal metastases with curative intent in our institution. Pathology analyses were focused on pseudocapsulation of liver metastases, growth pattern at the tumor edge, and Ki-67 labelling index (Ki-67 LI) of cancer cell nuclei. Univariate analyses of survival and of disease-free survival were performed for several clinicopathological factors, and multivariate analyses of survival and disease-free survival were also performed. RESULTS: The univariate survival analyses showed that pseudocapsulation, growth pattern, and Ki-67 LI were significant prognostic factors, besides synchronous versus metachronous occurrence of metastases, carcinoembryonic antigen level before hepatectomy, and number of metastases. A multivariate analysis showed that Ki-67 labeling index was the most reliable prognostic factor of survival. In addition, Ki-67 LI and microscopic growth pattern were multivariately predictive factors of disease-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: This large single-institution study showed that investigation of cancer cell proliferation and pathologic characteristics of the tumor margin are major prognostic factors.     

Surgical treatment of pulmonary metastases of colorectal cancer. Do the indications evolved?

AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to evaluate a single-institution experience in the surgical treatment of lung metastases from colorectal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: During a 16 years period, 42 patients underwent lung metastasectomy at the University Hospital of Nice for a total of 57 surgical interventions. Data were retrospectively collected and analysed in term of prognostic factors and long-term survival. RESULTS: The mean age was 64.5 years and there were 26 males and 16 females. In 36 cases lung metastasis were metachronous and the disease-free mean interval was 28.7 months. Eighteen patients had bilateral disease. In ten patients hepatic metastasectomy was done before lung resection. Forty-seven operations were performed for the 1(st) episode of lung metastasis (1 bilobectomy, 21 lobectomy, 4 segmentectomy and 38 wedge resections). Mediastinal metastatic disease was present in six patients. No patient died and the postoperative morbidity was 6.25%. Six patients needed operation for recurrent disease. Two patients died after completion pneumonectomy. Overall five and ten-year survival were 29.5 respectively 26.2%. The log-rank test identified two significant prognostic factors: radicality of metastasectomy (P =0.0066) and a disease-free interval longer than two years (P= 0.0021). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that local control of lung metastasis can improve survival only when a radical resection can be achieved. Selection criteria need to be improved in order to avoid unnecessary lung resection in patients with high risk of recurrences. The Pet-scan should probably have a certain interest in selecting these patients.     

Percutaneous ethanol injection and radio-frequency ablation for the treatment of nonresectable colorectal liver metastases – techniques and results

Background: Percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) and radio-frequency (RF) ablation are possible palliative treatment modalities for patients with non-resectable liver metastases of colorectal carcinomas. The different techniques are explained and reviewed. Results: PEI did not show promising results for the treatment of liver metastases. RF results were more encouraging; some studies showed improved mean survival times for patients when a complete necrosis of the metastases could be achieved. The maximum diameter of the necrotic area possible in a single session is about 5 cm. Conclusion: PEI and RF are palliative last-line treatment strategies for patients with non-resectable liver metastases and should only be applied if chemotherapy is not sufficient or not possible. The long-term efficacy of RF ablation in this group of patients has to be evaluated. Received: 10 March 1999 Accepted: 29 June 1999     

Results of surgical treatment for multiple (≥5 nodules) bi-lobar hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer

Background The surgery for the treatment of multiple (5) bi-lobar hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer is controversial. This retrospective study presents our experience in an attempt to develop reasonable treatment guidelines.Method One hundred sixty-one consecutive patients who underwent liver resection with curative intent were classified into three groups: H1 (unilateral), H2 (bilateral, 4 nodules), or H3 (bilateral, 5 nodules).Results The overall cumulative 5-year survival rate was 46.7%. Survival was similar among patients with H1, H2, and H3 disease. Thirty-two patients with H3 disease underwent hepatectomy: straightforward hepatectomy in 12, portal vein embolization (PVE) prior to hepatectomy in eight, two-stage hepatectomy in two, and two-stage hepatectomy combined with PVE in ten. Two-stage hepatectomy with or without PVE was the standard approach in patients with synchronous liver metastases. The operating mortality in hepatectomy for H3 disease was 0%, and the morbidity was 15.2%. The overall response rate to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) was 41.7% (5/12). Patients who responded to NAC (n=5) had a better prognosis than non-responders (n=7) (P<0.05).Conclusions Extended hepatectomy, including preoperative PVE and multi-step hepatectomy, combined with NAC, may result in a favourable prognosis, especially in patients who respond to NAC, but further studies with more patients are needed to confirm this.     

Resection of colorectal liver metastases in the elderly: does age matter?

Aim Despite the incidence of colorectal cancer increasing with age the proportion of patients undergoing surgery for colorectal liver metastases decreases dramatically in the elderly. Is this referral or selection bias justified? Method A prospective database of resection for colorectal liver metastases at a single centre was retrospectively analysed to compare the outcome in patients aged ≥ 75 years (group E) with those aged < 75 years (group Y). Data were analysed using the Kaplan–Meier method with Cox regression modelling. Results Of 1443 resections, 151 (10.5%) in group E were compared with 1292 (89.5%) in group Y. The two groups were matched apart from higher American Society of Anesthesiology scores (P = 0.001) and less use of chemotherapy (P = 0.01) in the elderly. Perioperative morbidity and 90‐day mortality were higher in the elderly compared with the younger group (32.5%vs 21.2%, P = 0.02, and 7.3%vs 1.3%, P = 0.001). In the last 5 years, mortality in the elderly improved and was no longer significantly different from that of the younger patients [n = 2/76 (2.6%) vs n = 9/559 (1.6%); P = 0.063]. The 5‐year survival was similar in groups E and Y for cancer‐specific (41.4%vs 41.6%, P = 0.917), overall (37.0%vs 38.2%) and median (44.1 months vs 43.6 months, P = 0.697) survival respectively. Conclusion In the elderly liver resection for metastatic disease can be performed with acceptable mortality and morbidity with as good a prospect of survival as for younger patients.     

Anatomical versus nonanatomical resection of colorectal liver metastases: is there a difference in surgical and oncological outcome?

Background  

The increased use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and minimally invasive therapies for recurrence in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CLM) makes a surgical strategy to save as much liver volume as possible pivotal. In this study, we determined the difference in morbidity and mortality and the patterns of recurrence and survival in patients with CLM treated with anatomical (AR) and nonanatomical liver resection (NAR).     

What is new in the surgical treatment of rectal cancer?]

Rectal adenocarcinoma is a common cancer. Substantial advances in surgical technique and adjuvant treatments usually allow to preserve sphincter function, without overruling oncologic surgery standards. Sexual function is usually preserved, except in patients with locally advanced tumors. There is sound evidence that complete removal of the mesorectum and local radiation therapy decrease the rate of local recurrences. Quality of functional results after colorectal versus coloanal anastomosis is compared, and the contribution to patient comfort of construction of a reservoir is evaluated.     

Resection of liver metastases from colorectal cancer: does preoperative chemotherapy affect the accuracy of PET in preoperative planning?

Background: Preoperative scanning for hepatic colorectal metastases surgery remains a challenge, especially in the age of preoperative chemotherapy, which has marked biochemical and physical effects on the liver. Integrated fluoro‐deoxyglucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography (FDG‐PET/CT) has applications for detecting extrahepatic disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate FDG‐PET/CT as a preoperative planning tool for detecting liver lesions in patients with and without preoperative chemotherapy. Methods: Patients who had resection of hepatic colorectal metastases between January 2004 and June 2006 were included. Patients were divided into those who received preoperative chemotherapy and those who did not. Malignant hepatic lesions found on each scan were compared with those found on histopathology, intraoperative examination and/or intraoperative ultrasound. Accurate scans (scan lesions corresponded to true lesions), false positives (scan lesions detected at least one non‐lesion) and false negatives (scan lesions missed at least one true lesions) were recorded. Results were also compared on a per lesion basis. Results: A total of 21 patients had preoperative FDG‐PET/CT scans with preoperative chemotherapy and 53 without. Accurate tests were six (29%) for the chemotherapy group versus 28 (53%) for the non‐chemotherapy group (P= 0.06). Notably, there were 11 (52%) underestimations in the chemotherapy group versus 18 (34%) in the non‐chemotherapy group. A total of 1.7 lesions were missed per patient in the chemotherapy group versus 0.7 in those who did not receive chemotherapy. Conclusion: Preoperative assessment with FDG‐PET/CT is not useful for hepatic colorectal metastases, particularly when preoperative chemotherapy is used, with a trend towards underestimation of lesions.     

Resection of combined or sequential lung and liver metastases of colorectal cancer: indication for everyone?

Successful sequential resection of isolated hepatic and pulmonary metastases of colorectal cancer (crc) has been reported, however long-term results of large series are lacking. Therefore, we retrospectively analysed data of patients in whom sequential hepatic and pulmonary resection for metastases was performed. PATIENTS AND METHOD: From the records of our hospital we identified 25 patients (19.5 % of all patients operated for hepatic or 33 % for lung metastases due to crc) with colorectal cancer who had pulmonary and hepatic resection for metastatic disease between 1991 and 2002. 11 of these had primary colonic cancer and 14 rectal cancer. None of the patients died perioperatively. Long-term results were correlated with the staging of the primary tumour, the number of metastases, disease free interval between primary tumour operation and occurrence of metastatic disease. RESULTS: Five-year survival rate was 33.5 % following the resection of the first metastasis. Three year survival after resection of the second metastasis was 39 %. The disease free interval was 20 months (mean). Long-term results were clearly influenced by the disease free interval: < 1 year (n = 6) median 50 months after resection of the crc; > 1 year median 90 months (n = 19). Further on R0 resection was important for long-term survival: Median survival was 32.5 (+/- 4.1) months following resection of the second metastasis but only 9.9 months after R > 0 resection. CONCLUSION: These results confirm that sequential resection of hepatic and pulmonary metastases can be performed with curative intention provided a systemic spread of the disease is excluded. The surgeon's opinion of resectability should be obtained in patients with such metastases before the patient is scheduled for palliative conservative treatment.     

Does surgical approach matter in the treatment of pediatric ulcerative colitis?

BackgroundThis study aims to compare the morbidity of open versus laparoscopic colectomy or proctocolectomy for pediatric patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) using national readmission outcomes.Materials and methodsThe 2010–2014 Nationwide Readmissions Database was used to identify patients < 18 years (excluding newborns) who underwent colectomy or proctocolectomy for UC. Patients with planned readmissions for staged procedures were excluded from readmission analysis. Demographics, hospital factors, and outcomes were compared by operative approach (open vs. laparoscopic) using standard statistical analysis. Results were weighted for national estimates.ResultsThere were 1922 patients (51% female, age 13 ± 3 years) with UC who underwent colectomy or proctocolectomy during index admission. Most cases were performed open (54%) and as elective admissions (64%). Compared to open approach, laparoscopy was associated with shorter index hospital length of stay (8 [5-17] days vs. 9 [6-18] days, p = 0.015), fewer surgical site infections (< 2% vs. 2%, p = 0.022), and less post-operative gastrointestinal dysfunction (5% vs. 8%, p = 0.008). After stratifying to control for elective and unplanned index admissions, laparoscopic approach was associated with fewer small bowel obstructions during index hospitalizations in both elective (9% vs. 15%, p = 0.003) and unplanned (5% vs. 16%, p<0.001) settings. Readmission for surgical site infection was also less common following laparoscopic approach in both elective (0% vs. 7%, p = 0.008) and unplanned (0% vs. < 7%, p = 0.017) settings.ConclusionsIn pediatric patients with ulcerative colitis, laparoscopic colectomy or proctocolectomy is associated with shorter hospital length of stay, less post-operative complications, and improved readmission outcomes.     

Is liver resection justified for patients with hepatic metastases from breast cancer?

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine our experience with hepatic resection (HR) in a relatively unselected group of patients with breast cancer liver metastases (BCLM). BACKGROUND: Although medical therapies provide limited survival benefit (median survival, 3-15 months), inclusion of HR into the multimodality treatment of patients with BCLM remains controversial. Our approach has been to offer HR to all patients with BCLM, provided that curative hepatic resection was feasible and extrahepatic disease was controlled with medical and/or surgical therapy. METHODS: Outcomes for 85 consecutive patients (all female, median age, 47 years) with BCLM treated with HR from 1984 to 2004 were reviewed. Extrahepatic metastases had been treated prior to HR or were synchronously present in 27 patients (32%). BCLM were solitary in 32 patients (38%) and numbered more than 3 in 26 patients (31%). The prognostic value of each study variable was assessed with log rank tests for univariate analysis and Cox proportional hazard models for multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Within 60 days of major hepatectomy (> or =3 segments, 54 patients) or minor hepatectomy (<3 segments, 31 patients), there was no mortality. The median hospital stay was 9 days with complications occurring in 26% of patients. Microscopically and macroscopically positive margins were present in 18% (R1) and 17% (R2) of patients. Following HR, 28 patients (33%) developed isolated hepatic recurrences, 12 of whom were treated with repeat hepatectomy. At a median follow-up interval of 38 months, 32 patients were alive, yielding median and 5-year overall survivals of 32 months and 37%. Median and 5-year disease-free survivals were 20 months and 21%. Study variables independently associated with poor survival were failure to respond to preoperative chemotherapy (P = 0.008), an R2 resection (P = 0.0001), and the absence of repeat hepatectomy (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: For patients with BCLM, HR is safe and may provide a significant survival benefit over medical therapy alone. Response to preoperative chemotherapy, resection margin, and rehepatectomy for intrahepatic recurrence are key prognostic factors. Importantly, favorable outcomes can be achieved even in patients with medically controlled or surgically resectable extrahepatic disease, indicating that surgery should be considered more frequently in the multidisciplinary care of patients with BCLM.