The role of chemotherapy in managing patients with resectable liver metastases.
Colorectal cancer metastatic to the liver is a common oncologic problem, and carefully selected patients can be successfully treated with surgical resection of liver metastases. Perioperative chemotherapy has been shown to increase progression-free survival in patients with resectable liver metastases and can currently be considered a standard therapy for eligible patients. Preoperative chemotherapy can downstage unresectable liver metastases and allow a complete resection. More aggressive chemotherapy as well has the incorporation of targeted agents such as cetuximab and bevacizumab into modern chemotherapy regimens has resulted in higher response rates, which may translate into improved survival. Preoperative chemotherapy can increase postoperative complications after hepatic resection, and the decision to use such therapy should be made in a multidisciplinary setting.
Halfdanarson
Thorvardur R
TR
Division of Hematology, Oncology and Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and Iowa City Veterans Administration Medical Center, Iowa City, IA 52442, USA. thorvardur-halfdanarson@uiowa.edu
Kendrick
Michael L
ML
Grothey
Axel
A
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents