Treatment outcome of patients with liver-only metastases from breast cancer after mastectomy: a retrospective analysis

Purpose To evaluate the efficiency of combined treatment of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and systemic chemotherapy (SC) for liver-only metastases from breast cancer after mastectomy. Methods We compared the outcomes of 44 patients who underwent combined treatment of TACE and systemic chemotherapy (TSC) with those of 43 patients who underwent systemic chemotherapy (SC). Results The median follow-up from the diagnosis of liver metastases was 29 months (range, 0-89 months). Response rates were 59.1% and 34.9% for TSC group and SC group (P < 0.05), respectively. The 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rates for TSC group were 76.2, 66.7 and 47.6%, and those for SC group were 48.1, 29.6 and 7.4% (P = 0.027), respectively. Estrogen receptor(ER)-negative status of primary tumor, disease-free interval from mastectomy to liver metastases (DFI) less than 24 months and patients who received systemic chemotherapy only were independently associated with poor prognosis (P = 0.009; P = 0.023; P = 0.030). Conclusions The combined treatment of TACE and systemic chemotherapy may prolong survival for liver metastases in breast cancer after mastectomy.