Importance of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in potentially curable colorectal cancer liver metastases
2008

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases

Sample size: 50 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Birgit Gruenberger, Werner Scheithauer, Robert Punzengruber, Christoph Zielinski, Dietmar Tamandl, Thomas Gruenberger

Primary Institution: Medical University Vienna

Hypothesis

Does neoadjuvant chemotherapy reduce the risk of recurrence following potentially curative liver resection in colorectal cancer patients?

Conclusion

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy can lead to high response rates and long-term recurrence-free survival in patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases.

Supporting Evidence

  • 72% of patients had an objective response to chemotherapy.
  • Median recurrence-free survival was 24.7 months for responding patients.
  • All patients underwent potentially curative R0 resection.

Takeaway

Giving chemotherapy before surgery helps some cancer patients live longer without their cancer coming back.

Methodology

50 patients received neoadjuvant XELOX or FOLFOX4 chemotherapy for six cycles before surgery.

Limitations

The study was non-randomized and had a relatively small sample size.

Participant Demographics

{"median_age":62,"age_range":"36 to 77","sex_ratio":"34 males, 16 females"}

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.002

Confidence Interval

{"recurrence_free_survival":"95% CI: 4.50 to 44.97","overall_survival":"95% CI: 32.65 to 43.35"}

Statistical Significance

p < 0.004

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2407-8-120

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