Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage IV colorectal cancer: a comparison of histological response in liver metastases, primary tumors, and regional lymph nodes.
BACKGROUND
We report the histopathological results of a novel "inversed" strategy designed to manage patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) who have synchronous liver metastases by using chemotherapy first, liver surgery second, and resection of the primary tumor as a final step. This study was designed to compare the response to chemotherapy in liver metastases, primary tumors, and locoregional lymph nodes.


METHODS
Twenty-nine patients with stage IV CRC received a combination of oxaliplatin, irinotecan, 5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin (OCFL) for 3-4 months. Histological response to chemotherapy was assessed by using a tumor regression grading (TRG) score based on presence of residual tumor cells and extent of fibrosis.


RESULTS
Median age of patients was 56 (range, 37-69) years. Primary tumor location was right colon (n = 5), left colon (n = 7), and rectum (n = 17 patients). TRG scores correlated across disease sites (Spearman correlation coefficients for TRG in the primary tumor and lymph nodes was 0.59 [P = 0.005]; for the primary tumor and metastases 0.44 [P = 0.021]; and for lymph nodes and metastases 0.58 [P = 0.006]). Complete absence or poor tumor response (TRG4/5) was significantly more frequent in primary tumors (35.7%) and locoregional lymph nodes (38%) than in liver metastases (6.9%; McNemar test, P = 0.02). Two patients had a complete pathologic response (pT0N0M0).


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with stage IV colorectal cancer, liver metastases exhibit a better histological response than primary tumors to OCFL neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Gervaz
Pascal
P
Department of Surgery, University Hospital Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
Rubbia-Brandt
Laura
L
Andres
Axel
A
Majno
Pietro
P
Roth
Arnaud
A
Morel
Philippe
P
Mentha
Gilles
G
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D002166:Camptothecin