title: Neoadjuvant oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy for liver metastases from colorectal cancer. An Italian survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Only 10% to 25% of patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer are suitable for resection. Methods for increasing the resectability of liver metastases are based on specific surgical techniques and neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We collected retrospective data on patients from various Italian hospitals from 1996 to 2002. Data from colorectal cancer patients with liver metastases treated with oxaliplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy were considered. Analysis focused on patients and treatment description and on longterm survival. We considered 107 patients from 36 Italian hospitals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 105 patients assessable for response, 8.4% achieved a complete response, 70.1% a partial response and 19.6% stable disease. Ninety-nine patients were treated with surgery for liver metastases. A radical resection was achieved in 79% of patients. Median survival time was 42 months. Thirteen patients experienced grade 3-4 hematologic toxicity, and 10 patients had grade 3-4 nonhematologic toxicity. Neurologic toxicity of grade >1 was observed in 21% of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neoadjuvant chemotherapy can be useful to increase the number of liver resections for metastatic colorectal cancer patients. Nevertheless, randomized trials are necessary to confirm this retrospective survey as well as the few single-institution experiences reported so far in the medical literature.
authors.affiliation: Oncologia Medica, Casa di Cura Poliambulanza, Brescia, Italy. zanib@numerica.it
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaniboni
authors.forename: Valter
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Torri
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tinazzi
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Codignola
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Faggiuolo
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sperti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy / Q000379:methods; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D000077150:Oxaliplatin