Thermal Radiofrequency Ablation as an Adjuvant Therapy for Patients With Colorectal Liver Metastasis

Abstract

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive technology for the treatment of liver malignancies and is used as an adjuvant therapy in patients with colorectal liver metastasis (CLM). This study enrolled a total of 49 CLM patients who underwent RFA treatment. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using the log-rank test and Cox proportional hazard model, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that OS was closely correlated with tumor size, frequency of RFA treatment, resection of the liver lesion, and CEA levels before RFA (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that resection of CLM lesions after RFA, frequency of RFA treatment, and serum CEA levels before RFA were independent risk factors for the survival of CLM patients (p < 0.05). Tumor lesion size, resection of the liver lesion after RFA, frequency of RFA treatment, and serum CEA levels before RFA may be important prognostic factors of CLM patients treated with RFA therapy.

Figure 1

Kaplan–Meier curves depict OS of RFA-treated CLM patients with liver lesions of different maximum diameters.

Figure 2

Kaplan–Meier PFS curves of RFA-treated CLM patients with liver lesions of different maximum diameters.

Figure 3

Kaplan–Meier OS curves of CLM patients who received single or multiple RFA treatments.

Figure 4

Kaplan–Meier PFS curves of CLM patients who received single or multiple RFA treatments.

Figure 5

Kaplan–Meier OS curves of CLM patients who underwent subsequent surgical resection after RFA treatment.

Figure 6

Kaplan–Meier PFS curves of CLM patients who underwent subsequent surgical resection after RFA treatment.

Figure 7

Kaplan–Meier OS curves of CLM patients with different CEA levels (<5 ng/ml or ≥5 ng/ml) before RFA treatment.

Figure 8

Kaplan–Meier PFS curves of CLM patients with different CEA levels (<5 ng/ml or ≥5 ng/ml) before RFA treatment.