Metastatic liver disease of colorectal origin: the value of locoregional immunochemotherapy combined with systemic chemotherapy following liver resection. Results of a prospective randomized study

Abstract

Background/aims: Liver resection for metastatic liver disease of colorectal origin, although considered as the 'gold standard' of treatment, is associated with limited long-term survival. The aim of this study was to compare overall survival, disease-free survival and the incidence of intra- or extrahepatic recurrence between patients who were randomly assigned to have locoregional chemoimmunotherapy with systemic chemotherapy group A (n = 62 patients) versus those who were treated with systemic immunochemotherapy group B (n = 60 patients).

Methodology: Group A included patients who, after liver resection, received locoregional immunochemotherapy combined with systemic chemotherapy, while group B included patients who had undergone systemic immunotherapy combined with systemic chemotherapy following liver resection. The two groups were matched in terms of sex, age and stage of the disease. Prognostic factors and their impact on disease-free survival were studied in both groups.

Results: Two-year survival was 92% for group A versus 75% for group B, 5-year survival was 73% for group A versus 60% for group B. During the two-year period, 34% of the group A patients versus 52% of those of group B developed either intrahepatic or extrahepatic recurrence of the disease (P < 0.00212).

Conclusions: From the analysis of the above results it becomes clear that regional immunochemotherapy combined with systemic chemotherapy leads to a decrease in the incidence of disease recurrence and thus to a significant prolongation of the overall survival and of disease-free survival.