title: Chemotherapy plus percutaneous radiofrequency ablation in patients with inoperable colorectal liver metastases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To access the efficacy of chemotherapy plus radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as one line of treatment in inoperable colorectal liver metastases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eligible patients were included in three Phase II studies. In the first study percutaneous RFA was used first followed by 6 cycles of 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin and irinotecan combination (FOLFIRI) (adjunctive chemotherapy trial). In the other two, chemotherapy (FOLFIRI or 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin and oxaliplatin combination) up to 12 cycles was used first with percutaneous RFA offered to responding patients (primary chemotherapy trials).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen patients were included in the adjunctive chemotherapy trial and 17 in the other two. At inclusion they had 1-4 liver metastases (up to 6.5 cm in size). Two patients died during chemotherapy. All patients in the adjunctive chemotherapy trial and 44% in the primary chemotherapy studies had their metastases ablated. Median PFS and overall survival in the adjunctive study were 13 and 24 mo respectively while in the primary chemotherapy studies they were 10 and 21 mo respectively. Eighty one percent of the patients had tumour relapse in at least one previously ablated lesion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chemotherapy plus RFA in patients with low volume inoperable colorectal liver metastases seems safe and relatively effective. The high local recurrence rate is of concern.
authors.affiliation: Joseph Sgouros, Krishna K Garadi, Maria Belechri, Anthony Maraveyas, Academic Department of Oncology, Castle Hill Hospital, Cottingham, HU16 5JQ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sgouros
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cast
authors.forename: Krishna K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Garadi
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belechri
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Breen
authors.forename: John Rt
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Monson
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maraveyas