Extending the frontiers of resectability in advanced colorectal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To review the advances in the past decade that have enabled more patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) to undergo curative hepatic resection.


METHODS
A comprehensive literature review and pertinent data published on advanced CRLM from The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center were used for this review.


RESULTS
Criteria for resectability of CRLM have expanded with the advent of effective chemotherapy, improved surgical technique, and novel strategies such as preoperative volumetry, portal vein embolization, and two-stage hepatectomy. Despite the aggressiveness of these approaches to treating patients with advanced disease, recent series show an improvement in 5-year survival rate for patients with CRLM.


CONCLUSIONS
Advances in multidisciplinary management and careful patient selection have enabled more patients to undergo curative resection for CRLM, with corresponding improvement in survival rates.
Chun
Y S
YS
Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Unit 444, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Vauthey
J N
JN
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000503:physiopathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010348:Patient Care Team; D018579:Patient Selection; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents