Liver resection of metastases for colorectal cancer, gastric cancer and breast cancer: two hospital experiences

Background: Surgical resection of liver metastases from colorectal cancer (CRC) is considered to have the curative potential in selected patients. In the field of gastric cancer (GC) and breast cancer (BC), opinion differs from one another. Methods: We analyzed the outcomes for patients who underwent liver resection for CRC liver metastases (CRLM), gastric cancer liver metastases (GLM) and breast cancer liver metastases (BLM) in two hospitals to identify the survival and prognostic factors. Results: From January 2002 to January 2015, a total of 181 patients were enrolled in the study. Primary tumor sites included 122 CRC, 38 GC and 21 BC. The overall 5-year survival rate was 39.2% in all the 181 patients, and that was 42.5%, 25.1%, 52.4% in CRLM, GLM and BLM patients, respectively. The 5-year survival rate was 45.7% and 33.9% (P=0.03) in patients with disease-free survival (DFS) >= 18 and <18 months, respectively (DFS referred to the interval between the primary tumor operation and the development of liver metastases). The median time to recurrence after liver resection was 17 months (range, 2-82 months). There were 99 patients (54.7%) and 112 recurrence occurred during the study. Conclusions: Liver resection for metastases was associated with long-term survival for selected patients. Longer disease free interval between primary tumor resection and occurrence of liver metastases indicated longer overall survival after the operation of liver metastases.