Resection Versus Laparoscopic Radiofrequency Thermal Ablation Of Solitary Colorectal Liver Metastasis

Purpose  There is scant data in the literature regarding radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFA) versus resection of colorectal liver metastases. The aim of this study is to compare the clinical profile and survival of patients with solitary colorectal liver metastasis undergoing resection versus laparoscopic RFA. Methods  Between 1996 and 2007, 158 patients underwent RFA (n = 68) and open liver resection (n = 90) of solitary liver metastasis from colorectal cancer. Patients were evaluated in a multidisciplinary fashion and allocated to a treatment type. Data were collected prospectively for the RFA patients and retrospectively for the resection patients. Results  Although the groups were matched for age, gender, chemotherapy exposure and tumor size, RFA patients tended to have a higher ASA score and presence of extra-hepatic disease (EHD) at the time of treatment. The main indication for referral to RFA included technical reasons (n = 25), patient comorbidities (n = 24), extra-hepatic disease (n = 10) and patient decision (n = 9). There were no peri-operative mortalities in either group. The complication rate was 2.9% (n = 2) for RFA and 31.1% (n = 28) for resection. The overall Kaplan–Meier median actuarial survival from the date of surgery was 24 months for RFA patients with EHD, 34 months for RFA patients without EHD and 57 months for resection patients (p < 0.0001). The 5-year actual survival was 30% for RFA patients and 40% for resection patients (p = 0.35). Conclusions  This study shows that, although patients in both groups had a solitary liver metastasis, other factors including medical comorbidities, technically challenging tumor locations and extra-hepatic disease were different, prompting selection of therapy. With a simultaneous ablation program, higher risk patients have been channeled to RFA, leaving a highly selected group of patients for resection with a very favorable survival. RFA still achieved long-term survival in patients who were otherwise not candidates for resection.     

结直肠癌同时性肝转移治疗46例分析

目的:探讨结直肠癌同时性肝转移的有效治疗方法。方法:对1996～2004年收治的46例结直肠癌同时性肝转移的临床资料和随访资料进行回顾性分析。根据治疗方法的不同分为3组:A组21例,为一期切除原发灶和肝转移灶并经肝动脉和门静脉置泵化疗者;B组15例,为单纯原发灶切除并经肝动脉和门静脉置泵化疗者;C组10例,为原发灶和肝转移灶均未能切除而仅行肝动脉和门静脉置泵化疗者。用KaplanMeier法对病人的生存时间作统计分析。结果:A、B、C3组术后中位生存期分别为38、20和13个月;各组之间术后生存时间的比较均有显著统计学差异(P<0.01)。结论:结直肠癌原发灶和肝转移灶一期手术切除并经肝动脉和门静脉置泵化疗的疗效最好;肝转移灶无法切除者能将原发灶切除并经肝动脉和门静脉置泵化疗也可取得较好的疗效;原发灶和肝转移灶未能切除而仅经肝动脉和门静脉置泵化疗的疗效相对较差。对结直肠癌同时性肝转移应采取以手术切除为主的综合措施进行积极治疗。     

Clinicopathological Features and Prognosis in Resectable Synchronous and Metachronous Colorectal Liver Metastasis

Introduction Hepatic resection may offer long-term survival for patients with colorectal metastases. However, controversies exist regarding the prognostic factors. Herein, the impact of synchronicity of liver metastasis on patient clinicopathological features and prognosis was evaluated. Methods One hundred and fifty-five patients who underwent hepatectomy for colon cancer metastasis, from 1995 to 2004, were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into two groups: synchronous and metachronous colorectal liver metastasis. Patient demographics, the nature of the primary and metastatic tumors, surgery-related complications, and long-term outcome were analyzed. Results Patients included in the synchronous group tended to be younger than those in the metachronous group. Compared to the metachronous group, patients in the synchronous group showed more metastases (P = 0.008) and bilobarly distributed metastases (P = 0.016). Bile leakage was the most common surgical complication. The estimated 5-year disease-free and overall survival rates were 16.8 and 41.1%, respectively. Univariate analysis indicated that synchronous metastases, advanced stage of the primary tumor, bilobar distribution of the metastases, more than three metastases, and colonic versus rectal location of the primary tumor were prognostic factors of shorter disease-free survival, but not overall survival. Multivariate analysis revealed that synchronous metastases and the advanced stage of the primary tumor were indicators for a worse disease-free survival. Conclusion The synchronous presence of primary colon cancer and liver metastasis may indicate a more disseminated disease status and is associated with a shorter disease-free survival than metachronous metastasis. These patients may need more careful monitoring and aggressive chemotherapy following curative resection.     

Rates and Patterns of Recurrence for Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation and Open Wedge Resection for Solitary Colorectal Liver Metastasis

Introduction The purpose of this study was to compare rates and patterns of disease progression following percutaneous, image-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and nonanatomic wedge resection for solitary colorectal liver metastases. Methods We identified 30 patients who underwent nonanatomic wedge resection for solitary liver metastases and 22 patients who underwent percutaneous RFA because of prior major hepatectomy (50%), major medical comorbidities (41%), or relative unresectability (9%). Serial imaging studies were retrospectively reviewed for evidence of local tumor progression. Results Patients in the RFA group were more likely to have undergone prior liver resection, to have a disease-free interval greater than 1 year, and to have had an abnormal carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level before treatment. Two-year local tumor progression-free survival (PFS) was 88% in the Wedge group and 41% in the RFA group. Two patients in the RFA group underwent re-ablation, and two patients underwent resection to improve the 2-year local tumor disease-free survival to 55%. Approximately 30% of patients in each group presented with distant metastasis as a component of their first recurrence. Median overall survival from the time of resection was 80 months in the Wedge group vs 31 months in the RFA group. However, overall survival from the time of treatment of the colorectal primary was not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions Local tumor progression is common after percutaneous RFA. Surgical resection remains the gold standard treatment for patients who are candidates for resection. For patients who are poor candidates for resection, RFA may help to manage local disease, but close follow-up and retreatment are necessary to achieve optimal results. Presented at the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract 47th Annual Meeting, May 22, 2006, Los Angeles, California. White and Avital contributed equally.     

Prognostic Value of Preoperative Peripheral Blood Monocyte Count in Patients with Colorectal Liver Metastasis after Liver Resection

Prognostic values of leukocyte subset counts in peripheral blood of cancer patients have not yet been fully investigated. We retrospectively examined the relation between preoperative absolute counts of peripheral blood leukocyte subsets and clinicopathologic factors and long-term prognosis in 97 patients with liver metastasis from colorectal cancer who underwent hepatic resection. Median preoperative peripheral blood leukocyte subset counts were as follows: neutrophils 3148/mm³; lymphocytes 1574/mm³; monocytes 380/mm³. Univariate analysis indicated significantly worse 5-year cancer-related survival for patients with a peripheral blood monocyte count >300/mm³ (67.5%) than for patients with a count ≤300/mm³ (36.8%). Multivariate analysis showed a preoperative peripheral blood monocyte count >300/mm³ and preoperative CEA level (>10 ng/ml) to be independent predictive factors for cancer-related survival after hepatic resection. The preoperative peripheral monocyte count correlated positively with white blood cell and neutrophil counts, but not with the tumor number, interval between colorectal and hepatic surgery, or preoperative serum CEA level. Our findings indicate that a preoperative absolute peripheral blood monocyte count >300/mm³ is an independent predictive factor for cancer-related survival of patients with colorectal liver metastasis who have undergone hepatic resection.     

Factors Influencing the Local Failure Rate of Radiofrequency Ablation of Colorectal Liver Metastases

Background The prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer is poor, especially when there is distant metastatic disease. Local ablation of tumor by radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has emerged as a safe and effective new treatment modality, but its long-term efficacy may be hindered by renewed local tumor growth at the site of RFA. The objectives of this study were to identify risk factors for local RFA failure and to define exclusion criteria for RFA treatment of colorectal liver metastases. Methods A total of 199 lesions in 87 patients were ablated with RFA. Factors influencing local failure rates were identified and compared with data from the literature. Results The local failure rate was 47.2%, and the average time to local disease progression was 6.5 months. Factors that significantly correlated with increased failure rates were metachronous occurrence of liver metastases, large mean lesion size, and central tumor location. Conclusions Because accurate electrode placement is pivotal in achieving adequate tumor necrosis, RFA should not be performed percutaneously when electrode placement is impaired. We suggest that lesions >5 cm and lesions located near great vessels or adjacent organs should be treated with open RFA, thus allowing vascular inflow occlusion and complete mobilization of the liver. Lesions that are difficult to reach by electrodes should be approached by an open procedure.     

Isolated Splenic Metastasis from Colorectal Cancer: Report of a Case

The authors report a case of a patient with splenic metastasis with previous history of colorectal cancer. A 69-year-old woman underwent a left hemicolectomy for sigmoid colon cancer. The tumor was staged T3N0M0. Two years after the operation, there was an elevation of CEA and computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a mass in the spleen, considered as an isolated metastasis. The patient underwent splenectomy. Histological diagnosis confirmed a metastatic adenocarcinoma from colorectal carcinoma. Patient was alive without neoplasic recurrence 5 years after splenectomy. Generally, splenic metastasis is uncommon. However, with the case of colorectal cancers, metastasis to the spleen is particularly rare. As with splenic metastasis of all primary tumors, the literature recommends that the treatment, where possible, is surgical.     

Second Hepatectomy for Recurrent Colorectal Liver Metastasis: Analysis of Preoperative Prognostic Factors

Background Second hepatectomy is a potentially curative treatment for patients with hepatic recurrence of colorectal cancer. However, there is still no consensus about the patient selection criteria for second hepatectomy under these circumstances, and the factors affecting prognosis after second hepatectomy remain uncertain.Methods Clinicopathologic data for 111 consecutive patients with colorectal liver metastasis who underwent second hepatectomy at a single institution between 1985 and 2004, and for whom complete clinicopathologic reports were available, were subjected to univariate and multivariate analyses.Results The morbidity and mortality rates were 14% and 0%, respectively, and the overall 5-year survival rate was 41%. Multivariate analysis revealed that synchronous resection for the first liver metastasis (hazard ratio, 1.8), more than three tumors at the second hepatectomy (1.9), and histopathological involvement of the hepatic vein and/or portal vein by the first liver metastasis (1.7) were independently associated with poor survival. We used these three risk factors to devise a preoperative model for predicting survival. The 5-year survival rates of patients without any risk factors, and with one, two, or three risk factors, were 62%, 38%, 19%, and 0%, respectively.Conclusions Second hepatectomy is beneficial for patients without any risk factors. Before second hepatectomy, chemotherapy should be considered for patients with any of these risk factors, especially with two or three factors, in the adjuvant or neoadjuvant setting to prolong survival. These results need to be confirmed and validated in another data set or future prospective trial according to the scoring scheme we outline.     

Survival of Patients with Synchronous and Metachronous Colorectal Liver Metastases—is there a Difference?

Background  The aim of this study was to compare outcomes in patients with synchronous and metachronous colorectal liver metastases, with special emphasis on prognostic determinants. Study design  We analyzed prospectively collected data on 101 patients with synchronous metastases (group A) who were treated surgically during the time period from April 1998 to December 2006 in regard to overall and disease-free survival, impact of chemotherapy, as well as several serum parameters. A group of patients with metachronous colorectal liver metastases (group B) was considered for baseline comparison. Results  Twenty-three patients in group A received only an explorative laparotomy. Surgical treatment included right hepatectomy (n = 7), left hepatectomy (n = 5), right trisectionectomy (n = 10), left trisectionectomy (n = 1), left lateral resection (n = 11), and sectionectomy (n = 44). Thirty-day mortality was 3%. Morbidity was observed in 10% of the patients. One-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates for synchronous metastases were 86%, 68%, and 47%, respectively. The corresponding rates for metachronous metastases were 94%, 68%, and 39% (p > 0.05). Disease free survival was 74%, 42%, and 33% in group A versus 84%, 62%, and 13% in group B (p = 0.28). There was no difference in survival between patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy and no chemotherapy (p > 0.05). Out of all serum parameters, carcinoembryonic antigen levels were a negative predictor for overall and disease-free survival only. Conclusions  Patients with synchronous colorectal liver metastases had a similar 5-year overall and disease-free survival, which corresponds to patients with metachronous metastases. The impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with synchronous metastases needs to be further clarified.     

超声引导射频消融治疗肝转移癌应用价值

目的探讨超声引导下射频消融(RFA)治疗肝转移癌适应症选择、治疗方案及疗效的应用价值。方法 36例82个病灶经临床及病理确诊并拟行RFA者进入本研究;肿瘤平均直径(3.8±1.2)cm,≥4cm肿瘤47.5%(39/82灶),单发肿瘤30.5%(11例)。例行超声造影或增强CT检查,根据造影灌注特征及病灶数目、大小形态、浸润范围、位置、与周围结构关系等,确定RFA适应证,其中31例为常规超声引导下经皮射频消融治疗、3例为术中开腹后行射频消融治疗、2例为腹腔镜下射频消融治疗。均经1~3个月超声造影或增强CT随访评价疗效。结果 36例82个灶根据造影结果制定方案行RFA分期治疗及扩大消融治疗。肿瘤灭活率为95.1%(78/82灶),局部复发率7.3%(6/82),新生转移率38.8%(14/36例)。结论超声引导下射频消融治疗肝转移癌,可应用经皮、术中及腹腔镜下多种方式行消融治疗,超声及超声造影为肝转移癌适应证选择和治疗方案制定提供参考依据,从而有效提高疗效并降低复发率,是RFA治疗肝转移癌重要的辅助方法。     

Factors Affecting the Prognosis of Patients with Colorectal Liver Metastasis

Purpose: To determine factors affecting the survival of colorectal cancer patients developing liver metastasis.

Material and methods: 850 colorectal cancer patients who had been operated on between 1995 and 2005 were retrospectively reviewed and patients who developed liver metastases were selected. Patients’ demographics and data regarding the characteristics and management of primary tumors and liver metastases were assessed. Survival data were analyzed using Cox proportional hazard method to identify factors affecting prognosis of such patients. Results: 154 (18.1%) patients developed liver metastasis; however, only 60 patients (39 males and 21 females; median age: 61 (31–77) years) had complete follow-up data, of whom 28 had undergone metastasis resection. The median survival time of patients who underwent resection and who did not was 42 (22–118) vs. 13 (2–52) months (p < 0.001). Curative resection of the primary tumor (p = 0.32; Exp(B) = 2.93), metastases that were less than 5 in number and localized to one of the right or left lobes (p = 0.004; Exp(B) = 3.38), and surgical resection of the metastases (p = 0.001; Exp(B) = 3.76) were independent risk factors.

Conclusions: Patients with colorectal liver metastases that are less than 5 and confined into one lobe, could benefit from metastasis surgery most if the primary tumor is resected.     

腹腔镜射频消融术治疗特殊部位肝癌23例

目的探讨腹腔镜射频消融术（1aparoscopic radiofrequency ablation,LRFA）治疗特殊部位肝癌的疗效。方法2008年5月～2011年5月对23例特殊部位肝癌在全麻下行LRFA,其中原发性肝癌19例,转移性肝癌4例,单发肿瘤15例,多发8例,肿瘤直径（3．8±1．1）cm,热辐射损毁范围一般超过肿瘤直径0．5—1cm。结果23例均安全完成LRFA,单个病灶射频消融时间（9．2±4．3）min,手术时间（98．7±21．5）min,出血量（80．6±21．8）ml。术后未发生腹腔出血、胃肠道损伤、膈肌损伤及肝功能衰竭等并发症。术后1个月螺旋cT增强扫描证实,瘤体完全消融率达100％。术后1、2、3年生存率分别为91．3％（21／23）、80．9％（17／21）、76．4％（13／17）。6例术后复发,复发率26．1％（6／23）,复发时间术后2～18个月（平均7．5月）;10例死亡：3例死于肝功能衰竭,5例死于消化道出血,2例死于肿瘤复发转移。结论对于特殊部位肝癌LRFA是一种安全、创伤小的方法。     

Onset of Liver Metastasis After Histologically Curative Resection of Pancreatic Cancer

Purpose We assessed the possibility of predicting the time of onset of liver metastases by measuring the postoperative changes in serum carbohydrate antigen (CA)19-9 after curative resection of pancreatic cancers. Methods Among 28 patients who underwent histologically defined curative resection of pancreatic cancer between 1984 and 1999, liver metastasis developed in 11 patients with elevated serum CA19-9 levels. We plotted the serum CA19-9 levels against time on a semilogarithmic graph. Over the linear part of the curve, the time when log[CA19-9] equaled zero was defined as the time of onset of liver metastases. The log[CA19-9] level doubling time was then calculated and evaluated in relation to the survival period. Results The serum CA19-9 levels increased linearly in 10 of the 11 patients. The predicted time of onset of liver metastasis ranged from preoperative day 163.0 to postoperative day 27.1, being preoperative in eight patients. The doubling time until death correlated strongly with survival in the eight patients with maintained log[CA19-9] linearity. Conclusion The onset of liver metastases might be preoperative in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Therefore, neoadjuvant chemotherapy should be mandatory even if there is no sign of liver metastases.     

Risk Factors for the Development of Metachronous Liver Metastasis in Colorectal Cancer Patients After Curative Resection

Background  

Metachronous liver metastasis (MLM) occurs in 20–40% of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients following surgical treatment. The aim of the present study was to determine the risk factors affecting the development of MLM in CRC patients following curative resection.     

Long-Term Characteristics of 5-Year Survivors After Liver Resection for Colorectal Metastases

Background We investigated factors affecting 5-year survival in patients undergoing hepatic resection for colorectal cancer metastases, including events long after initial hepatectomy. Although retrospective studies have demonstrated survival benefit of hepatectomy for metastatic colorectal cancer, few have included sufficient 5-year survivors to identify survival-related factors throughout the clinical course. Methods We divided 156 patients with hepatectomy for colorectal cancer metastases into 5-year survivors (n = 64) and patients dying before 5 years after hepatectomy (n = 92). Clinicopathologic data were compared retrospectively with respect to long-term outcome. Results By multivariate analysis, large liver tumors (adjusted relative risk, 2.029; P = .011), short tumor doubling time (1.809; P = .026), and origin from poorly differentiated primary adenocarcinoma (12.632; P = .001) compromised survival, whereas initial treatment-related variables did not. Although no difference was seen in initial treatment-related variables between 5-year survivors with recurrence after hepatectomy and patients dying before 5 years, repeat surgery was used more frequently in survivors (P < .001), typically with adjuvant chemotherapy. Conclusions Reoperations for each recurrence of metastases, followed by additional chemotherapy, frequently resulted in long survival.     

骨桥蛋白与结直肠癌及肝转移关系研究进展

骨桥蛋白（ OPN）是一种具有分泌性、粘附性的磷酸化的酸性糖蛋白,因其在多个肿瘤的发生发展和转移过程中密切相关,被称为肿瘤相关性蛋白。骨桥蛋白通过调节肿瘤细胞的黏附、迁移和刺激周围血管的生成,促进肿瘤侵袭和转移。研究证实,骨桥蛋白可作为结直肠癌发生和肝转移良好的诊断标记,是肿瘤免疫治疗的新靶点。通过总结OPN结构、功能及作用机制,对骨桥蛋白与结直肠癌发生和肝转移的相关性研究展开综述。     

结直肠癌肝转移的综合治疗

结直肠癌肝转移是影响结直肠癌预后的重要因素,治疗方案包括手术治疗、化疗(全身静脉化疗和介入治疗)、基因治疗和局部治疗(射频消融、激光消融、无水酒精注射和冷冻切除术)等,其中手术是目前唯一有效的治愈手段,手术死亡率为1%~2.8%,术后5年生存率为34%~38%,但仅有10%~25%结直肠癌肝转移患者确诊时适于手术切除,因此各种非手术治疗的作用正日益受到关注。本文就结直肠癌肝转移的综合治疗作一综述。     

Metachronous Liver Metastasis from Early Gastric Cancer

Introduction  

Early gastric cancer (EGC) has an excellent prognosis, but tumors recur in some patients even after apparently successful treatment. Among recurrent sites, the liver is one of the most common. In this study, we investigated clinicopathological features and factors predicting the development of liver metastasis from EGC.     

Radiofrequency Ablation of Concomitant and Recurrent Pulmonary Metastases after Surgery for Colorectal Liver Metastases

Background  

To evaluate our experience of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of pulmonary metastases in patients with resected colorectal liver metastases who had concomitant or recurrent pulmonary metastases.