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Surgery After Downstaging of Unresectable Hepatic Tumors With Intra-Arterial Chemotherapy

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Abstract

Background: This retrospective study was performed to assess the outcome among patients who underwent hepatic resection or tumor ablation after hepatic artery infusion (HAI) therapy downstaged previously unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or liver metastases from colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods: Between 1983 and 1998, 25 patients with HCC and 383 patients with hepatic CRC metastases were treated with HAI therapy for unresectable liver disease. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 26 (6%) of these patients who underwent subsequent surgical exploration for tumor resection or ablation.

Results: At a median of 9 months (range 7–12 months) after HAI treatment, four patients (16%) with HCC underwent exploratory surgery; two underwent resection with negative margins, and the other two were given radiofrequency ablation (RFA) because of underlying cirrhosis. At a median postoperative follow-up of 16 months (range 6–48 months), all four patients were alive with no evidence of disease. At a median of 14.5 months (range 8–24 months) after HAI therapy, 22 patients with hepatic CRC metastases underwent exploratory surgery; 10 underwent resection, 6 underwent resection and RFA or cryotherapy, and 2 underwent RFA only. At a median follow-up of 17 months, 15 (83%) of the 18 patients with CRC who had received surgical treatment had developed recurrent disease; the other 3 died of other causes (1 of postoperative complications) within 7 months of the surgery. One patient in whom disease recurred underwent a second resection and was disease-free at 1 year follow-up.

Conclusions: Hepatic resection or ablation after tumor downstaging with HAI therapy is a viable option for patients with unresectable HCC. However, given the high rate of recurrence of metastases from CRC, hepatic resection or ablation after downstaging with HAI should be used with caution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas

    Funda Meric MD, Steve A. Curley MD, J. Nicolas Vauthey MD & Lee M. Ellis MD

  2. Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology and Digestive Diseases, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas

    Yehuda Z. Patt MD

  3. Department of Pharmacy, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas

    Judy Chase PharmD

  4. Department of Surgery, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

    Mark S. Roh MD

  5. Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Box 106, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX, 77030

    Lee M. Ellis MD

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  1. Funda Meric MD
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  2. Yehuda Z. Patt MD
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  3. Steve A. Curley MD
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  4. Judy Chase PharmD
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  5. Mark S. Roh MD
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  6. J. Nicolas Vauthey MD
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  7. Lee M. Ellis MD
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Correspondence to Lee M. Ellis MD.

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Meric, F., Patt, Y.Z., Curley, S.A. et al. Surgery After Downstaging of Unresectable Hepatic Tumors With Intra-Arterial Chemotherapy. Ann Surg Oncol 7, 490–495 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10434-000-0490-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10434-000-0490-2

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