Transarterial chemoembolization of unresectable systemic chemotherapy refractory liver metastases: a retrospective...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in the treatment of patients with unresectable colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRCLM) who had failed systemic chemotherapy. In addition, the role of TACE in the treatment of CRCLM is also worth discussing.

This single-center retrospective study evaluated the consecutive medical records of patients with CRCLM treated with TACE from June 2014 to June 2018, who had failed at least two lines of prior chemotherapy. Therapeutic response, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and complications were recorded.

Fifty-three eligible patients were included in our study. The objective tumor radiologic regression and disease control rates were 52.8% and 79.2%, respectively. Median OS and PFS were 15 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 13.1 months, 16.9 months) and 6 months (95% CI 4.7 months, 7.3 months), respectively. Multivariate analysis found that synchronous metastatic disease, presence of extrahepatic metastasis, and Child-Pugh score B were independent prognostic factor for OS and PFS. Two patients (3.8%) had severe complications. The results of subgroup analysis showed that synchronous liver metastasis and extrahepatic metastasis had an effect on the prognosis of patients, while the primary tumor sites (rectum, left, and right colon) had no effect on the prognosis.

TACE is well tolerated and effective in patients with unresectable chemotherapy refractory CRCLM. Meanwhile, the results of this study also indicated that TACE is still a better treatment for these patients.