Treatment options for metastatic colorectal cancer in patients with liver dysfunction due to malignancy

Abstract

Background: The survival of colorectal cancer patients is frequently determined by the extent of metastatic invasion to the liver; in cases of major involvement, therapeutic strategies are limited because the liver is necessary for drug metabolism.

Material and methods: We have reviewed articles about the pharmacokinetic profiles of each drug used in colorectal cancer patients with hepatic dysfunction to determine which of these treatments are most feasible.

Results: Some drugs appear to be feasible options for patients with hepatic insufficiency. Agents such as 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin, as well as monoclonal antibodies such as bevacizumab, cetuximab, and panitumumab, can potentially be used in these cases. On the other hand, irinotecan and regorafenib cannot be recommended because of the risk of increased toxicity.

Conclusion: Treatment of patients with colorectal cancer and liver dysfunction represents a major challenge because the prognosis is usually very poor and alteration of liver function is normally an exclusion criterion in clinical trials. In this review, we present evidence regarding the use of each drug in patients with colorectal cancer and hepatic impairment.

Keywords: Chemotherapy; Hepatic dysfunction; Hyperbilirubinaemia; Monoclonal antibodies; Targeted therapy.