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Adjuvant therapy for resectable liver metastases: Can metastatic colorectal cancer be cured?

  • Published:
Current Colorectal Cancer Reports

Abstract

Surgery remains the only curative therapy for patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer. Unfortunately, only a minority of patients are candidates. The use of clinical prognostic indicators and computer programs, such as OncoSurge, may help to identify optimal candidates. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy may render previously ineligible patient candidates for curative surgery after downsizing. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is associated with histopathologic changes of the liver, and the effect of such changes on survival is unclear. Promising results have been seen with chemotherapy infused through the hepatic artery in conjunction with systemic chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings. Adjuvant therapy with oxaliplatin-or irinotecan-based regimens after resection of liver metastases is generally recommended. Individuals should be encouraged to participate in clinical trials to help clarify the role and optimal sequencing of systemic chemotherapy, targeted agents, local therapies, and surgery for patients with hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer.

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  1. Northwestern University, 676 North Saint Clair, Suite 850, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Mary F. Mulcahy MD

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  1. Vikas Aurora MD
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Correspondence to Mary F. Mulcahy MD.

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Aurora, V., Mulcahy, M.F. Adjuvant therapy for resectable liver metastases: Can metastatic colorectal cancer be cured?. Curr colorectal cancer rep 3, 127–134 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11888-007-0021-7

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