title: FOLFOX enables high resectability and excellent prognosis for initially unresectable colorectal liver metastases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of oxaliplatin plus fluorouracil and leucovorin (FOLFOX) on initially unresectable colorectal liver metastases (CRLM).
  
  
  METHODS
  From May 2005 to December 2008, FOLFOX was administered to 71 patients with initially unresectable CRLM. Hepatic resection was performed promptly after CRLM became resectable.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-six patients (37%) were downstaged as being resectable. The mean interval between the first FOLFOX and hepatic resection was six months (range, 3-7 months), and 7.1 courses (range, 2-12). Operative morbidity was 12% and mortality was nil. The median progression-free survival time was 19 and 7 months, and the median survival time was over 48 and 20 months, in finally resectable and unresectable patients, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that additional hepatic resection was the only independent prognostic factor (hazard ratio 4.80, p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FOLFOX is an effective chemotherapeutic regimen leading to successful hepatic resection and an excellent prognosis for patients with initially CRLM.
authors.affiliation: FACS, Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Honjo 1-1-1, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan.
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Beppu
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Toshiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Masuda
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Komori
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Horino
authors.forename: Hiromitsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Hirohisa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okabe
authors.forename: Yoshifumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Baba
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.forename: Chikamoto
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Akira
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanebe
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takamori
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Baba
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil