High Resectability of Colorectal Liver Metastases with Aggressive Chemotherapy in the Era of Molecular Target-Based Agents

Background/Aims: Advances in chemotherapy have expanded the resectability of colorectal cancer (CRC) with liver metastases. We studied treatment results in CRC patients with liver metastases in the era of molecular target-based agents. Methodology: Based on data collected retrospectively, we analyzed the demographics, operative and pathological outcomes, and adjuvant chemotherapy, of 91 consecutive CRC patients with liver metastases treated between January, 2008 and June, 2010. Results: Of the 91 patients, 42 (46.2%) underwent liver resection (group 1), 41 underwent only resection of the primary tumor without hepatectomy (group 2), and 8 underwent palliative surgery (group 3). According to multivariate analysis, resection of liver metastases was significantly influenced by the number of metastases and the existence of extrahepatic metastases. Disease-free survival (DFS) differed significantly between patients who received adjuvant therapy and those treated by surgery alone (p<0.001). The regimen (p=0.01) and duration (p<0.0001) of adjuvant chemotherapy also affected DFS. Overall survival after 1 and 3 years was 97.6% and 94.0%, respectively, in group 1, 71.9% and 30.6% in group 2, and 33.3% and 0% in group 3. Conclusions: Although the observation period was short, our findings suggest that high resectability and effective chemotherapy will prolong the survival of patients with colorectal liver metastases.