Adjuvant Therapy in Combination with Resection of Colorectal Cancer Metastasis to the Liver or Lungs

Surgical resection is associated with prolonged survival for patients with limited lung or liver metastatic colorectal cancer. The benefit of resection of colorectal liver metastases is widely accepted. However, after complete resection of colorectal liver metastases, up to 70 % of patients develop recurrence. Oncosurgical strategies, including complete resection and chemotherapy, have been developed to improve oncological outcome and to reduce recurrence after resection of colorectal liver metastases. Chemotherapy in combination with liver resection can be administered before, after, or before and after the surgical procedure. Perioperative chemotherapy has been revealed to reduce the risk of recurrence and has been accepted as a standard of care for patients with resectable liver metastases. Research, including intensification of chemotherapy administered in combination with surgery, is ongoing to further improve outcomes for patients with resectable liver metastases. There are currently few data regarding the benefit of chemotherapy administered in association with resection of lung metastases from colorectal cancer. A large prospective trial is currently evaluating the benefit of resection of lung metastases from colorectal cancer.