The Impact of Molecular Biology in the Seeding, Treatment Choices and Follow-Up of Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases-A Narrative Review

There is a clear association between the molecular profile of colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRCLM) and the degree to which aggressive progression of the disease impacts patient survival. However, much of our knowledge of the molecular behaviour of colorectal cancer cells comes from experimental studies with, as yet, limited application in clinical practice. In this article, we review the current advances in the understanding of the molecular behaviour of CRCLM and present possible future therapeutic applications. This review focuses on three important steps in CRCLM development, progression and treatment: (1) the dissemination of malignant cells from primary tumours and the seeding to metastatic sites; (2) the response to modern regimens of chemotherapy; and (3) the possibility of predicting early progression and recurrence patterns by molecular analysis in liquid biopsy.

Automated summary

There is a clear association between the molecular profile of colorectal cancer liver metastases and patient survival. However, much of our knowledge comes from experimental studies with limited clinical application. This article reviews the current advances in understanding the molecular behavior of colorectal cancer liver metastases and presents future therapeutic applications, focusing on dissemination of malignant cells, chemotherapy response, and molecular analysis for predicting early progression and recurrence patterns.