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Surgical Treatment and Other Regional Treatments for Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases

Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Correspondence: Kenneth K. Tanabe, M.D., Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Cox 626, 100 Blossom Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA. Telephone: 617-724-3868; Fax: 617-724-3895.

The liver is the most common site of distant metastasis from colorectal cancer. About one-fourth of patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer have no other sites of metastasis and can be treated with regional therapies directed toward their liver tumors. Surgical resection of colorectal cancer liver metastases can result in a 24%-38% five-year survival, but only a minority of patients are candidates for resection. Other regional therapies such as cryosurgery, radiofrequency ablation, and hepatic intra-arterial chemotherapy may be offered to patients with unresectable but isolated liver metastases. The efficacy of these treatments is still being determined. For most patients with spread of metastatic colorectal cancer beyond the liver, systemic chemotherapy rather than regional therapy is a more appropriate option.

Key Words. Colorectal cancer • Liver neoplasm • Hepatectomy • Cryosurgery • Radiofrequency ablation • Intra-arterial infusion • Chemotherapy

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