Liver resection for multimodal treatment of breast cancer metastases: identification of prognostic factors.
BACKGROUND
Liver resection (LR) within a multimodal treatment concept of hepatic metastases (HM) that results from breast cancer has been controversially discussed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of LR in patients with hepatic breast cancer metastases.


METHODS
Prospectively collected data from 41 consecutive patients who underwent LR for HM between 1999 and 2008 were analyzed retrospectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess potential prognostic factors.


RESULTS
Segmental resection was performed in 46% and major hepatectomy in 54% of patients. The postoperative mortality rate was 0%. At a median follow-up of 34 months, 26 patients were alive. The median and 5-year overall survival rates after LR were 58 months and 48%, respectively. The median and 5-year disease-free survivals were 34 months and 31%, respectively. The intrahepatic recurrence-free 5-year survival was 62%. The median survival from time of diagnosis of HM was 79 months. The positive resection margin as well as a disease-free interval between the treatment of the primary tumor and the diagnosis of HM < 1 year were independent predictors of overall survival.


CONCLUSIONS
LR of hepatic breast cancer metastases within a multimodal treatment concept is a safe procedure in well-selected patients. Both a short time interval to the development of HM and positive resection margins after LR are strongly associated with worse long-term survival.
Department of General and Transplantation Surgery, Ruprecht Karls University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Katrin
K
Hoffmann
Clemens
C
Franz
Ulf
U
Hinz
Peter
P
Schirmacher
Christian
C
Herfarth
Michael
M
Eichbaum
Markus W
MW
Büchler
Peter
P
Schemmer
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome