[Resectable colorectal liver metastases: pro neoadjuvant therapy - contra neoadjuvant therapy]

Approximately one third of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) present with metastases confined to the liver only. In 15 % of these patients the metastases are primarily resectable. After resection of colorectal liver metastases the 5-year survival rate is 25 - 40 %. The EORTC trial of Nordlinger et al. has examined the role of perioperative/neoadjuvant chemotherapy of resectable liver metastases and found in the subgroup of resected patients a significant improvement in disease-free survival through chemotherapy. The results were not significant in the intent-to-treat population. Possible arguments pro neoadjuvant therapy of resectable liver metastases are the early eradication of disseminated tumour cells, the identification of a worse prognosis tumour biology in the individual patient and the higher dose density which can be achieved preoperatively versus postoperatively. Arguments against preoperative chemotherapy are the chemotherapy-induced hepatotoxicity and related increase in perioperative morbidity, the risk of achieving a complete remission of lesions which then cannot be detected intraoperatively and the uncertain optimal duration of chemotherapy. Especially surgical oncologists in Germany do not consider the neoadjuvant treatment of resectable liver metastases as a standard of care. In summary, because of the lack of level 1 evidence, patients with resectable liver metastases of colorectal cancer should be discussed within interdisciplinary tumour boards together with surgeons, gastroenterologists and medical oncologists. Potentially, overall survival data of the EORTC trial which is expected for late 2010 could change the level of evidence.