Prognostic factors of patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer

Purpose: To elucidate which prognostic factors were the most important in the patients with simultaneous liver metastases from colorectal cancer. Methods: From May 1995 to December 1999, 64 patients operated for simultaneous liver metastases from colorectal cancer at the Department of Abdominal Surgery in this Cancer Hospital were studied. Prognostic factors were analyzed. Results: In our series, simultaneous liver metastases from colorectal cancer account for 10. 3% of the total patients. Th size of liver metastases, serum CEA value, primary tumor resection, adjuvant treatment modality were the most significant variable in the sruvival analysis. There were no significant difference in survival based on age, sex, primary tumor position, tumor differentiation, number of liver metastases. Median survival of 15 patients with the size of liver metastases 5 cm, pre-operation CEA level 100 j.i.g/ml and unresectable primary tumor were 3. 52 months. The survival of this group was sinificantly different from the other patients (21. 60 months). Conclusions: Treatment modalities had significant influence on survival of patients with liver metastasis from colorectal cancer. Primary tumor resection and liver resection should be considered standard therapy for all suitable patients with colorectal metastases isolated to the liver. Regional arterial chemotherapy was superior to systemic chemotherapy. Size of liver metastases and preoperation CEA level were important prognostic factors.\;