Prognostic factors and time-related changes influence results of colorectal liver metastases surgical treatment: a single-center analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the prognostic factors involved in survival and cancer recurrence in patients undergoing surgical treatment for colorectal liver metastases (CLM) and to describe the effects of time-related changes on survival and recurrence in these patients.


METHODS
From January 1994 to January 2006, 236 patients with CLM underwent surgery with the aim of performing curative resection of neoplastic disease at our institution and 189 (80%) of these patients underwent resection of CLM with curative intention. Preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative data, including primary tumor and CLM pathology results, were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into two time periods: a first period from January 1994 to January 2000 (n = 93), and a second period from February 2000 to January 2006 (n = 143).


RESULTS
Global survival at 1, 3 and 5 years in patients undergoing hepatic resection was 91%, 54% and 47%, respectively. Patients with preoperative extrahepatic disease, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels over 20 ng/dL, more than four nodules or extrahepatic invasion at pathological analysis had worse survival. Tumor recurrence rate at 1 year was 48.3%, being more frequent in patients with preoperative and pathological extrahepatic disease and CEA levels over 20 ng/dL. Although patients in the second time period had more adverse prognostic factors, no differences in overall survival and recurrence were observed between the two periods.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite advances in surgical technique and better adjuvant treatments and preoperative imaging, careful patient staging and selection is crucial to continue offering a chance of cure to patients with CLM.
Martí
Josep
J
Liver Surgery and Transplantation Unit, IMDiM, IDIBAPS, Hospital Clinic, CIBERehd, University of Barcelona, Villarroel, 170, Barcelona 08036, Spain.
Modolo
María Marta
MM
Fuster
Josep
J
Comas
Jaume
J
Cosa
Rebeca
R
Ferrer
Joana
J
Molina
Victor
V
Romero
Juan
J
Fondevila
Constantino
C
Charco
Ramón
R
García-Valdecasas
Juan Carlos
JC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D018579:Patient Selection; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors