Treatment outcomes of colorectal cancer with bilateral liver metastases

The purpose of the research: to develop an effective treatment regimen for patients with synchronous liver metastases from colorectal cancer. Material and methods. The study included 126 patients with colon cancer and synchronous liver metastases. The patients were divided into two groups. Group I consisted of 64 patients, who underwent resection of the colon and hepatic resection with radiofrequency ablation of metastases in the remaining portion of the liver and portal vein chemoembolization. Then, they received 4 courses of systemic chemotherapy followed by hepatic artery chemoembolization. Group II (the control group) consisted of 62 patients, who underwent resection of the colon without hepatic resection. Systemic chemotherapy was administered 3-4 weeks after resection of the colon. Results. Postoperative complications occurred in 18 (28.1 %) patients of Group I and in 10 (16.1 %) patients of Group II. Six patients died (4 patients in Group I and 2 patients in Group II). Of the 18 postoperative complications occurred in Group I, 9 were related to hepatic resection. The median progression-free survival time was 9.0 months in Group I patients and 5.0 months in Group II patients, p=0.001. The median overall survival time was 13.8 months and 9.8 months in patients of Group I and Group II, respectively (p=0.004). Conclusion. Treatment options used for Group I patients resulted in improved survival rates.Key words: colorectal cancer, metastatic liver disease, chemoembolization, hepatic resection.