title: Percutaneous laser ablation in patients with isolated unresectable liver metastases from colorectal cancer: Results of a phase II study.
abstract: We prospectively evaluated the safety, local tumor control, and impact on survival parameters of percutaneous laser ablation (PLA) in patients with colorectal liver metastases not amenable to surgical resection. The study included 44 individuals with 75 unresectable liver metastases and no known extrahepatic disease. The median number of metastases treated for each patient was one, with a range of 1-4. Metastases had a median diameter of 3.4 cm (range 0.5-9 cm), and a median volume of 16.8 cm(3) (range 0.4-176.4 cm(3)). All patients also received systemic chemotherapy with modalities that differed according to the type of response to PLA. After treatment, 61% (46/75) of the tumors were ablated completely. The likelihood of achieving a complete ablation was significantly higher when metastases had a diameter <3.0 cm (p = 0.004). Overall survival was 30.0+/-12.7 months in patients with a complete ablation, and 20.2+/-10.2 months in those with a partial ablation (p = 0.002). There were no major complications during or after PLA, the most frequent side effect being abdominal pain that required analgesics. These findings indicate that PLA can be safely used as an adjunct to chemotherapy in unresectable colorectal liver metastases, and may have a positive impact on survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Regina Apostolorum Hospital, Albano Laziale, Italy. cmpacel@katamail.com
authors.forename: Claudio M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Pacella
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Valle
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bizzarri
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pacella
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brunetti
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maritati
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Osborn
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stasi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D053685:Laser Therapy; D007834:Lasers / Q000009:adverse effects; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome