title: Response of liver metastases to preoperative radiochemotherapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer and resectable synchronous liver metastases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  No standard treatment for advanced rectal cancer with synchronous resectable liver metastases (LM) has been defined. Radiochemotherapy prior to simultaneous or staged curative resection of both primary tumor and LM is one of the treatment options available. The response of LM to radiochemotherapy has never been evaluated and, in particular, the risk for progression of LM is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2000 and 2011, 20 patients underwent preoperative radiochemotherapy for advanced rectal cancer with synchronous limited but resectable LM. Imaging responses of LM to radiochemotherapy were analyzed on per-patient and per-lesion bases using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the patients, 20 had 41 LM; 15 of the 20 patients (75%) had rectal cancer with expected circumferential margins <1 mm on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and 50% had a solitary LM before treatment. Of the patients, 13 received oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy, and 7 received fluorouracil (FU)-based chemotherapy in combination with radiation. Of the 41 LM, 7 showed complete response (17%); 7 showed partial response (17%); 20 remained stable (49%); and 7 progressed (17%). Of the 25 LM treated with oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy, only 1 LM (4%) progressed. All 20 patients were suitable for resection of LM with curative intent after the radiochemotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with advanced rectal cancer and synchronous limited, but resectable LM, the risk for progression of LM during radiochemotherapy is low, especially if the chemotherapy regimen contains oxaliplatin. This low risk does not compromise a curative surgical approach to LM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Digestive Surgery and Surgical Oncology Ambroise Paré Hospital, APHP, Boulogne Billancourt, France.
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Manceau
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brouquet
authors.forename: Jean-Baptiste
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Bachet
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Penna
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El Hajjam
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rougier
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nordlinger
authors.forename: Stephane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benoist
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*