Surgical strategies for synchronous colorectal liver metastases in 156 consecutive patients: classic, combined or reverse strategy?
BACKGROUND
An increasing number of patients with synchronous colorectal liver metastases (CLM) are candidates for resection. The optimal treatment sequence in these patients has not been defined.


METHODS
Data on 156 consecutive patients with synchronous resectable CLM and intact primary were reviewed. Surgical strategies were defined as combined (combined resection of primary and liver), classic (primary before liver), and reverse (liver before primary) after preoperative chemotherapy. Postoperative morbidity and mortality rates and overall survival were analyzed.


RESULTS
One hundred forty-two patients (83%) had resection of all disease. Seventy-two patients underwent classic, 43 combined, and 27 reverse strategies. Median numbers of CLMs per patient were 1 in the combined, 3 in the classic, and 4 in the reverse strategy group (p = 0.01 classic vs reverse; p < 0.001 reverse vs combined). Postoperative mortality rates in the combined, classic, and reverse strategies were 5%, 3%, and 0%, respectively (p = NS), and postoperative cumulative morbidity rates were 47%, 51%, and 31%, respectively (p = NS). Three-year and 5-year overall survival rates were, respectively, 65% and 55% in the combined, 58% and 48% in the classic, and 79% and 39% in the reverse strategy (NS). On multivariate analysis, liver tumor size >3 cm (hazard ratio [HR] 2.72, 95% CI 1.52 to 4.88) and cumulative postoperative morbidity (HR 1.8, 95% CI 1.03 to 3.19) were independently associated with overall survival after surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
The classic, combined, or reverse surgical strategies in patients with synchronous presentation of CLM are associated with similar outcomes. The reverse strategy can be considered as an alternative option in patients with advanced CLM and an asymptomatic primary.
Brouquet
Antoine
A
Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Mortenson
Melinda M
MM
Vauthey
Jean-Nicolas
JN
Rodriguez-Bigas
Miguel A
MA
Overman
Michael J
MJ
Chang
George J
GJ
Kopetz
Scott
S
Garrett
Christopher
C
Curley
Steven A
SA
Abdalla
Eddie K
EK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D003107:Colorectal Surgery / Q000379:methods; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome