Colorectal metastases confined to the liver: a unique opportunity?

Liver metastases nearly always represent disseminated cancer, and systemic therapies designed for controlling systemic tumors are usually indicated. However, in a minority of patients with colorectal cancer, management of the metastatic hepatic disease will be clinically important and even curative. This review discusses novel treatment approaches that may be indicated in colorectal cancer patients with liver metastases, including the potential use of systemic therapy as part of multimodality therapy in an effort to cure selected patients with colorectal liver metastases.