Simplified staging system for predicting the prognosis of patients with resectable liver metastasis: development and validation

HYPOTHESIS: Although several staging systems for colorectal liver metastasis have been proposed, simple and generally accepted staging systems are not available for this disease. We hypothesized that more detailed analysis of primary colorectal cancer may make it possible to develop a simple staging system and that its stratification ability may be demonstrated by validation against data from unrelated patients. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of prospectively documented data, development of a stage, and validation against an unrelated cohort. SETTING: Four tertiary referral centers. PATIENTS: Twenty-two clinicopathologic factors were examined in 369 consecutive patients who underwent curative resection for liver metastasis from colorectal cancer (original cohort). Using the independent prognostic factors, a simplified staging system was developed and was validated by data from 229 unrelated patients (validation cohort). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Kaplan-Meier survival curve analyses between different prognostic groups in the cohorts. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis revealed several independent prognostic variables, including hepatic lymph node metastasis (relative risk 4.39), 4 or more colorectal lymph node metastases (RR 1.50), carcinoembryonic antigen level of 50 ng/mL or higher (RR 1.29), and multiple hepatic metastases (RR 1.27). Patients with hepatic lymph node metastasis were assigned to stage 4, and the remaining patients were divided according to number of factors: none, stage 1; 1, stage 2; 2 or 3, stage 3. In the original cohort, median survival in stages 1, 2, 3, and 4 was 7.2, 3.5, 2.0, and 1.3 years, respectively. In the validation cohort, these values were 9.6, 4.1, 2.8, and 1.6 years, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed simplified staging system was easy to use, was highly predictive of patient outcome, and permitted categorization of patients into treatment groups. Although we validated this staging system, further validation and improvements are needed.     

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??Risk and prognostic factors of colorectal liver metastases LIANG Li, LIU Tian-shu. Department of Medical Oncology??Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University??Shanghai 200032, China
Corresponding author: LIU Tian-shu, E-mail: liu.tianshu@
zs-hospital.sh.cn
Abstract Liver is the most common metastasis site of colorectal cancer, and the prognosis of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM)is poor. CRLM are divided into synchronous metastasis and metachronous metastasis. Single factor and multiple factor regression analyses show that the risk factors of CRLM include the depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, tumor node, differentiation degree, tumor antigen and carbohydrate antigen. The factors influencing the prognosis of CRLM include the size and quantity of liver metastases, primary resection, surgical resection of liver metastases, systemic drug therapy and so on. Therefore, the surgical resection of liver metastases as well as drug therapy to get the opportunity of resection can maximize the survival of patients with CRLM. For a combination of a number of factors, the scoring system can better predict the prognosis of CRLM.     

Resection of hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer

Summary Background: The aim of this paper is to analyze our experience with liver resection for metastatic colorectal cancer and to evaluate the prognostic significance of various parameters. Methods: 40 consecutive patients treated with potentially curative liver resection between 1984 and 1996 were included. The prognostic significance of various parameters was evaluated with respect to survival. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed for following factors: age, gender, site and stage and grading of the primary tumor, size of metastases, number of metastases, lobar distribution of metastases, diagnostic interval, type of liver resection, resection margin, perioperative blood transfusion and preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level. Results: 3-year- and 5-year survival was 54% and 33%, median survival was 37 months. The 30 day mortality rate was 0%, postoperative complications occurred in 8 patients (20%). As single factors the following significantly affected the prognosis: number of metastases (p=0.0001), mesenteric lymphnode involvement of the primary tumor (p=0.002), lobar distribution (p=0.002) and intraoperative units of blood (p=0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that age, gender, mesenteric lymphnode involvement, number of metastases and synchronous versus metachronous metastatic disease were independent predictors of survival. Conclusions: Liver resection is effective in selected patients with hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer. In resectable patients it is not possible to establish a clear prognosis based on the investigated factors. Therefore, patients with adverse prognostic factors should not be denied resection.      

Sequential resection of lung metastasis following partial hepatectomy for colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND: Multiple organ metastases from colorectal carcinoma may be considered incurable, but long survival after both liver and lung resection for metastases has been reported. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 48 patients who underwent lung resection for metastatic colorectal cancer between 1992 and 1999 was undertaken. Twenty-seven patients had lung metastasis alone, 15 had previous partial hepatectomy, and six had previous resection of local or lymph node recurrence. The relationship of clinical variables to survival was assessed. Survival was calculated from the time of first pulmonary resection. RESULTS: Five-year survival rates after resection of lung metastasis were 73 per cent in patients without preceding recurrence, 50 per cent following previous partial hepatectomy and zero after resection of previous local recurrence. Independent prognostic variables that significantly affected survival after thoracotomy were primary tumour histology and type of preceding recurrence. There was no significant difference in survival after lung resection between patients who had sequential liver and lung resection versus those who had lung resection alone. CONCLUSION: Sequential lung resection after partial hepatectomy for metastatic colorectal cancer may lead to long-term survival.     

Influence of postoperative morbidity on long-term survival following liver resection for colorectal metastases

BACKGROUND: Survival after resection of colorectal liver metastases may be influenced by the patient, the primary tumour and the liver metastases. Postoperative morbidity is associated with poor survival in several cancers. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate prognostic factors of survival after resection of colorectal liver metastases, including postoperative morbidity. METHODS: From 1985 to 2000, 311 consecutive patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer underwent resection with curative intent. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the influence of age, sex, site and stage of the colorectal tumour, disease-free interval, number, size and distribution of metastases, type of hepatectomy, pedicular clamping, resection margin, blood transfusion, postoperative morbidity and adjuvant chemotherapy on overall and disease-free survival. RESULTS: The postoperative mortality and morbidity rates were 3 and 30 per cent respectively. The 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 53 and 36 per cent respectively. Both overall and disease-free survival rates were independently associated with nodal status of the colorectal tumour, number of metastases and postoperative morbidity. Patients with postoperative morbidity had an overall and disease-free 5-year survival rate half that of patients with no morbidity: 21 versus 42 per cent for overall survival (P < 0.001) and 12 versus 28 per cent for disease-free survival (P = 0.001) respectively. CONCLUSION: Long-term survival can be altered by postoperative morbidity after resection of colorectal liver metastases by increasing the risk of tumour recurrence. This justifies optimizing the surgical treatment of colorectal liver metastases to decrease postoperative morbidity and the use of efficient adjuvant treatments in patients with postoperative morbidity.     

RAS基因突变对结直肠癌肝转移患者肝切除术后预后的影响

目的分析RAS基因突变对结直肠癌肝转移行肝切除患者预后的影响。方法回顾分析北京大学肿瘤医院肝胆胰外一科2008年1月1日至2016年12月31日连续收治的545例结直肠癌肝转移行肝切除的患者资料,依据纳入和排除标准最终纳入356例,男性232例,女性124例,年龄21〜83岁。比较RAS基因野生型和突变型患者的临床和随访资料。采用Kaplan-M eier法进行生存分析,比较采用log-rank检验。单因素和多因素Cox回归分析患者生存的影响因素。结果RAS基因野生型和突变型患者分别为247例和109例。RAS基因野生型患者中位生存期为74个月,突变型为30个月。RAS基因野生型患者累积生存率和累积无病生存率均优于突变型,差异有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。多因素Cox回归分析,肝转移出现间隔≤12个月(HR=1.673,95%CI:1.016~2.637)、肝转移瘤最大直径>5cm(HR=1.717,95%(CI:1.102〜2.637)、RAS基因突变型(HR=1.836,95%CI:1.322〜2.550)是结直肠癌肝转移患者手术切除后生存的独立危险因素。结论RAS基因突变是结直肠癌肝转移患者肝切除术后生存的危险因素,RAS基因突变型患者预后更差。     

结直肠癌伴同时性肝转移的治疗

目的 探讨结直肠癌伴同时性肝转移患者的临床相关病理因素以及手术治疗.方法 回顾性分析1994年8月至2006年12月收治患者的临床资料及随访结果,比较结直肠癌无肝转移和有同时性肝转移患者的病理特点及不同程度肝转移患者和不同手术处理的预后.结果 2019例原发性结直肠癌患者中发生同时性肝转移者166例(8.10%).多因素分析显示:术前CEA水平、Ducks分期、肿瘤分化程度与浆膜浸润是同时性肝转移发生的高危因素;同时性肝转移术后1、3、5年生存率分别为69%、21%、9%;不同程度肝转移(H1、H2、H3)组间预后差异有统计学意义(X2=23.35,P<0.01).根治性手术切除组总体生存率明显高于姑息切除和未能切除组生存率(X2=21.18,P<0.01);姑息切除组和未切除组近期生存率差异有统计学意义(P<0.01),远期生存率差异无统计学意义(P=0.13).结论 结直肠癌伴同时性肝转移患者肝转移程度不同预后也不同.能够根治性切除的结直肠癌伴同时性肝转移预后较好,姑息切除原发病灶可提高近期预后和生活质量.     

结直肠癌肝转移危险及预后因素分析

肝脏是结直肠癌最常见的远处转移器官,结直肠癌病人出现肝转移一般预后较差。结直肠癌肝转移分为同时性肝转移和异时性肝转移,对众多的临床以及病理学特征进行的单因素和多因素回归分析提示,影响结直肠癌发生肝转移的危险因素有：浸润深度、淋巴结转移、癌结节、分化程度、癌胚抗原和糖类抗原等。影响结直肠癌肝转移病人预后的因素有：肝转移灶大小及数目、肝外器官转移、原发灶手术切除、肝转移灶手术切除、全身药物治疗等。因此,手术切除肝转移灶、药物治疗获得手术切除机会等治疗模式能够最大程度地提高结直肠癌肝转移病人的存活率。由众多因素组合起来的评分系统,能够较好地预测结直肠癌肝转移病人的预后。     

Prognostic factors in resection of pulmonary metastasis from colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate characteristics of primary colorectal cancer and pulmonary metastases in order to identify prognostic factors for overall survival and risk factors for further intrapulmonary recurrence after resection of pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer. METHODS: Forty-nine patients who underwent resection of pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer were reviewed. The factors assessed were age, sex, pathological findings of the original colorectal cancer (depth, lymphatic invasion, venous invasion, lymph node metastasis, differentiation, Dukes' stage) and pulmonary metastasis (maximum tumour size, number of tumours, completeness of resection), serum carcinoembryonic antigen level, previous hepatectomy for liver metastases, and surgical procedure for resection of pulmonary metastasis. Overall survival and intrapulmonary recurrence were also reviewed. RESULTS: Survival rates after resection of pulmonary metastases were 78 per cent at 3 years and 56 per cent at 5 years. Solitary pulmonary metastases were significantly correlated with survival (P = 0.049). The pathological features of the primary colorectal cancer had no impact on survival. Histologically incomplete resection of pulmonary metastasis significantly correlated with pulmonary re-recurrence (P = 0.034). CONCLUSION: Long-term survival can be expected after complete resection of pulmonary metastases arising from colorectal cancer, especially in patients with a solitary pulmonary metastasis.     

A prognostic system applicable to patients with resectable liver metastasis from colorectal carcinoma staged by positron emission tomography with [18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose: role of primary tumor variables

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to develop a prognostic system applicable to patients with hepatic metastasis from colorectal cancer in whom extrahepatic disease was excluded by preoperative PET with [(18)F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG-PET). Data from two institutions were analyzed separately and together to improve general applicability of results. STUDY DESIGN: Data were analyzed for 285 consecutive patients undergoing liver resection for colorectal metastases from 1995 to 2005 at 2 institutions routinely using preoperative FDG-PET with. Fifteen clinicopathologic variables of the primary and secondary tumors were examined to identify factors predictive of survival. RESULTS: Outcomes were correlated with poorly differentiated tumor grade in both data sets. Because patients with poorly differentiated tumors comprised a small proportion (16%) of the population, patients with well-differentiated or moderately differentiated tumors were analyzed independently. In this subgroup, positive lymph node status in the primary colorectal tumor resection specimen was the only characteristic that predicted survival of patients in both institutions. Consequently, patients were sorted into three prognostic categories: poor tumor differentiation; well-differentiated or moderately differentiated tumors and node positive; and well-differentiated or moderately differentiated tumors and node negative. These groups had significantly different overall survival on Kaplan-Meier analysis (p=0.0014). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with colorectal liver metastases staged with FDG-PET with overall survival can be predicted directly from data in the pathology report of the colorectal primary tumor. This study also indicates the need for new molecular tumor markers of prognosis to complement clinicopathologic markers if the goal of prediction of outcomes in individual patients is to be reached.     

Determinants of survival in liver resection for colorectal secondaries

All 72 resections for colorectal liver secondaries during the period 1971-1984 were analysed retrospectively. Liver tumours were single in 35 (49 per cent), unilateral in 55 (76 per cent) and associated with extrahepatic disease in 12 (18 per cent) patients. Operative mortality was 5.6 per cent. With respect to the disease in the liver, the presence or absence of four or more metastases was the predominant prognostic determinant with a 5 year survival rate of 20 per cent in patients with less than four liver tumours, and no 3 year survivor among patients with four or more tumours. When the number of liver tumours was less than four, the prognosis in patients with unilateral disease was not significantly better than in patients with bilateral disease (P = 0.19). No other liver disease variable seemed to play any role in the prognosis. Extrahepatic disease was associated with a poor prognosis and no 5 year survivor. The length of the tumour-free resection margin was the only treatment variable that varied with the outcome: a resection margin of less than 10 mm was followed by a poor survival. Variables that did not influence survival included uni- or bilateral disease, liver tumour volume, tumour size, type of liver resection, Dukes' classification, differentiation of the primary tumour and synchronous or metachronous disease. It is concluded that resection for liver colorectal secondaries is indicated when there are less than four liver tumours, even if bilateral, no extrahepatic disease is present, and a resection margin of at least 10 mm can be obtained. It should not be performed unless all of these requirements are met.     

Five-year survival after resection of hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer in patients screened by positron emission tomography with F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET)

OBJECTIVE: To report the first 5-year overall survival results in patients with colorectal carcinoma metastatic to the liver who have undergone hepatic resection after staging with [18F] fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET). SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The 5-year overall survival after hepatic resection for colorectal cancer metastases without preoperative FDG-PET has been established in 19 studies (6070 patients). The median 5-year overall survival rate in these studies is 30% and has not improved over time. FDG-PET detects unsuspected tumor in 25% of patients considered to have resectable hepatic metastasis by conventional staging. METHODS: From March 1995 to June 2002, all patients having hepatic resection for colorectal cancer metastases had preoperative FDG-PET. A prospective database was maintained. RESULTS: One hundred patients (56 men, 44 women) were studied. Metastases were synchronous in 52, single in 63, unilateral in 78, and <5 cm in diameter in 60. Resections were major (>3 segments) in 75 and resection margins were > or = 1 cm in 52. Median follow up was 31 months, with 12 actual greater than 5-year survivors. There was 1 postoperative death. The actuarial 5-year overall survival was 58% (95% confidence interval, 46-72%). Primary tumor grade was the only prognostic variable significantly correlated with overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Screening by FDG-PET is associated with excellent postresection 5-year overall survival for patients undergoing resection of hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer. FDG-PET appears to define a new cohort of patients in whom tumor grade is a very important prognostic variable.     

Echogenicity of liver metastases is an independent prognostic factor after potentially curative treatment

HYPOTHESIS: Intraoperative echogenic appearance of liver metastases from colorectal cancer is a prognostic factor of outcome after curative treatment. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. SETTING: Department of Surgery at a university hospital. PATIENTS: One hundred forty-three consecutive patients with hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer who underwent liver resection with curative intent between 1992 and 1998. INTERVENTION: Curative treatment was achieved by liver resection alone, liver resection plus edge cryotherapy, or liver resection plus cryotherapy to lesions not amenable to further resection. In patients with more than 2 lesions, a hepatic artery catheter was placed for regional chemotherapy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The echogenic appearance of the liver metastases was assessed by intraoperative ultrasound by a single person throughout the study using a 5-MHz ultrasound probe. The findings were prospectively entered into the database. RESULTS: Fifty-four percent of patients had hyperechoic metastases. This group had significantly longer overall (log rank, P<.001) and recurrence-free survival (log rank, P =.004) compared with patients who had hypoechoic metastases (36%). A significantly higher percentage of mucin-secreting tumors were found in the hypoechoic patient group (chi(2), P =.001). Dukes stage of the primary tumor (P =.02), echogenicity of the liver secondaries (P =.04), and diameter of the largest resected metastasis (P =.01) were independent prognostic factors for recurrence-free survival in the Cox regression model. CONCLUSION: These results support the hypothesis that echogenicity of liver metastases from colorectal cancer is an independent prognostic factor of outcome after curative resection.     

Factors influencing survival of patients undergoing hepatectomy for colorectal metastases

BACKGROUND: The extent of surgical margin is still a matter of controversy with regard to outcome after liver resection for metastatic disease. The aim of this study was to clarify the significant prognostic factors after hepatectomy for colorectal metastases, with special reference to the surgical margin. METHODS: Ninety-six patients who underwent initial hepatic resection for liver metastases from colorectal cancer between 1992 and 1994 were studied. RESULTS: Overall 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 94, 61 and 51 per cent respectively. All of the independent factors associated with poor prognosis after hepatic resection were tumour-related factors, such as the number of tumours (four or more), presence of portal vein invasion, hepatic vein invasion and absence of a fibrous pseudocapsule. A positive resection margin was not an independent prognostic factor, because of its strong relationship with the number of tumours resected. CONCLUSION: A generous surgical margin is not essential for curative hepatic resection, although positive surgical margins should be avoided. New potential risk factors which affect survival, such as the presence of portal vein or hepatic vein invasion and the absence of a pseudocapsule, may be helpful for defining the indications for postoperative adjuvant treatment.     

Technical and biological factors in disease-free survival after hepatic resection for colorectal cancer metastases.

Careful patient selection for hepatic resection of colorectal cancer metastases is essential to improve current poor results. Carcinoembryonic antigen level and number of metastases were significant preoperative prognostic indicators of 5-year disease-free survival in patients selected clinically for hepatic surgery. Surgical margin, weight of hepatic tissue resected, carcinoembryonic antigen level, and flow cytometry were significant postoperative prognostic indicators. Patients with a carcinoembryonic antigen level less than 200 ng/mL, 1-cm surgical margins, and less than 1,000 g of liver tissue removed had a greater than 50% estimated 5-year disease-free survival rate. If the metastases were diploid on flow cytometry, an additional survival advantage may have been gained. Inadequate surgical margins led to high rates of liver-only recurrence. Nonhepatic recurrence was unrelated to surgical margins. Intraoperative liver examination by ultrasound during primary colon cancer resection and adjuvant chemotherapy may offer earlier selection of biologically appropriate patients and improved outcome; both recommendations require clinical trials.     

Synchronous Resection of Colorectal Primary Cancer and Liver Metastases

Background Patients with synchronous colorectal liver metastases are thought to have a less favorable prognosis than those with colorectal cancer alone. Surgical treatment options are controversial, be it synchronous resection or staged resection. This study compared the clinical, perioperative, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) results of patients undergoing synchronous resection versus staged resection. Methods An observational cohort study of 103 patients with synchronous colorectal liver metastases was performed. All data were collected prospectively. Clinical, perioperative, DFS, and OS results of patients undergoing synchronous resection (group I, n = 73) and staged resection (group II, n = 30) were compared. Results More patients in group I had poorly differentiated colorectal cancer, bilobar liver metastases, more than three liver metastases, ≤4 cm liver metastases, and shorter hospital stays than patients in group II. There were no significant statistically differences in DFS and OS between the two groups. The median DFS of groups I and II were 28 and 26 months, respectively (p = 0.585). The median OS of groups I and II were 37 and 36 months, respectively (p = 0.900). Conclusions Synchronous resection achieved DFSs and OSs similar to those seen after staged resection while avoiding a second major operation.     

Hepatic and Extrahepatic Colorectal Metastases: When Resectable,Their Localization Does Not Matter,But Their Total Number Has a Prognostic Effect

Background The presence of extrahepatic disease (EHD) is considered a contraindication to hepatectomy in patients with colorectal liver metastases. After resection, the prognosis is based more on the total number of resected metastases (located inside and outside the liver) than on the site of these metastases (only inside the liver or not). Methods A total of 308 patients with colorectal cancer underwent hepatectomy, and 84 (27%) also underwent resection of miscellaneous EHD. The study was a prospective data registration and retrospective analysis. When considering the total number of resected metastases, each liver metastasis and each EHD location was counted as one lesion. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Results The median follow-up was 99 months. The overall 5-year survival rate was 32%. In the multivariate analysis, the total number of metastases (inside or outside the liver) had a greater prognostic value than the criterion “presence or absence of EHD.” Considering the total number of resected metastases (whatever their site), 5-year survival rates were 38% (SD: 4%) in the group with one to three metastases, 29% (SD: 5%) in patients with four to six metastases, and 18% (SD: 5%) in patients with more than six metastases (P = .002). A very simple prognostic score based on sex and the total number of metastases is proposed. Conclusions EHD, when resectable, is no longer a contraindication to hepatectomy. More importantly, the total number of the metastases, whatever their location, has a stronger prognostic effect than the site of these metastases.     

Liver Resection for Multiple Colorectal Liver Metastases with Surgery Up-front Approach: Bi-institutional Analysis of 736 Consecutive Cases

Background

Preoperative chemotherapy has become more common in the management of multiple resectable colorectal liver metastases; however, the benefit is unclear. This study examined clinical outcomes following liver resection for multiple colorectal liver metastases with the surgery up-front approach.

Methods

Data collected prospectively over a 16-year period for 736 patients who underwent hepatic resection at two different centers were reviewed. Patients were divided into three groups depending on the number of tumors as follows: group A, between one and three tumors (n?=?493); group B, between four and seven tumors (n?=?141); and group C, eight or more tumors (n?=?102).

Results

The 5-year overall and recurrence-free survival rates were 51 and 21?%, respectively, for the entire patient cohort, 56 and 29?% in group A, 41 and 12?% in group B, and 33 and 1.7?% in group C. Multivariate analysis showed that decreased survival was associated with positive lymph node metastasis of the primary tumor, the presence of extrahepatic tumors, a maximum liver tumor size >5?cm, and tumor exposure during liver resection.

Conclusions

In patients with multiple liver metastases, the number of liver metastases has less impact on the prognosis than other prognostic factors. Complete resection with repeat metastasectomy offers a chance of cure even in patients with numerous colorectal liver metastases (i.e., those with eight or more nodules). A further prospective study is necessary to clarify the optimal setting of preoperative chemotherapy.     

Prognostic value of postoperative carcinoembryonic antigen concentration and extent of invasion of resection margins after hepatic resection for colorectal metastases.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognostic value of postoperative concentration of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and extent of surgical margins after resection of liver metastases from colorectal cancer. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Teaching hospital, Switzerland. SUBJECTS: 49 patients with hepatic metastases after primary colorectal cancer. INTERVENTIONS: Resection of hepatic metastases MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Assessment of prognostic value of variables by univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Median survival was 24 months (range 5-86 months). Resection margins were clear (> 1-cm) in 10, close (< 1-cm) in 25 and invaded in 9 patients. On univariate analysis, a postoperative concentration of CEA of <4ng/ml was correlated with prolonged survival (p < 0.001), but the width of the resection margin was not of prognostic importance. There was no correlation between width of resection margins and postoperative concentration of CEA (p = 0.5). On multivariate analysis, postoperative concentrations of CEA of 4 ng/ml or more were associated with increased risk of death (relative risk 7.3; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.8-18.7, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Postoperative CEA offers better prognostic discrimination than the width of resection margins after resection of liver metastases from colorectal tumours. Some patients with invaded resection margins did survive for 3 years, but no patient did whose CEA concentration was 4 ng/ml or more. The definition of a potentially curative hepatic resection should include a postoperative CEA concentration of <4 ng/ml (within the reference range).     

Repeat liver resection for recurrent colorectal liver metastases

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to delineate the role of surgery for recurrent colorectal cancer in the liver and to identify prognosticators for better patient selection and outcome. METHODS: Data from 90 repeat hepatectomies (second = 75; third = 12; fourth = 3) for recurrent colorectal cancer were collected. RESULTS: After the second hepatectomy, the 3-and 5-year survival rates were 48% and 31%, respectively. Twenty-seven percent (20 of 75) of patients are alive without recurrence after a median follow-up of 27 months, and 9 survived more than 5 years. Four or more tumors, positive regional lymph node metastases, concomitant extrahepatic disease, and residual tumor were independent poor prognostic factors after the second hepatectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Repeat hepatectomy should be applied for recurrent colorectal cancer, when curative removal of the tumor is possible, although the benefit from treatment was limited in a patient with regional lymph node metastases, 4 or more metastases, or extrahepatic disease.