Patterns of failure following curative resection of colorectal liver metastases

Several studies have focused on factors determining recurrence and survival rate after curative resection of colorectal liver metastases (LM). Data are lacking with regard to patterns of failure indicating where and when recurrences arise.

One-hundred-and-five consecutive patients [F/M: 31/74; mean age 61 years (range 36-80 y)] with primary colorectal liver metastases underwent surgical R0 curative resection between 1990-1999. Patient follow-up was closed in January 2002. The common closing date method was used for survival analysis. Multivariate analysis was performed with the Cox proportional hazard technique.

The overall (OS) vs disease free survival (DFS) rates at 1, 2, and 5 years were 88.5 vs 63.3, 73.4 vs 40.2, and 36.8 vs 18.1%, respectively. Elevated serum CEA level was the only factor independently related to recurrent disease. Elevated serum CEA level, maximum diameter of liver metastases (LM), and satellitosis were factors significantly related to poor OS. Recurrent liver metastases developed in 43% and extra-hepatic metastases in 60% of the patients. In about half of the patients cancer recurrence was observed within 18 months, almost equally distributed between hepatic and extra-hepatic sites.

Despite optimal patient selection and curative resection of colorectal liver metastases, more than a half of the patients developed cancer recurrence within 2 years.