[Current status of therapy of liver metastases of colorectal carcinoma]

Abstract

Surgical removal of liver metastases stemming from colo-rectal carcinoma is the therapy of choice of this disease. Postoperative mortality is 8%, 5 years survival rate ranges between 22 and 52% and can be considered to be good. However in 85% of patients surgery is not possible because of widespread involvement of the liver. Systemic chemotherapy yields remission rates up to 23% without increase of survival time, and therefore is no real alternative. Infusion of cytostatic drug into the hepatic artery yields better results, e.g. remission rates up to 85% and average survival times up to 26 months.