Hepatectomy versus Chemotherapy for Resectable Colorectal Liver Metastases in Progression after Perioperative Chemotherapy: Expanding the Boundaries of the Curative Intent

Simple Summary The aim of our study was to estimate the rate of overall survival (OS) in patients undergoing hepatectomy compared with those treated exclusively with chemotherapy in cases of disease progression (PD) after perioperative chemotherapy for colorectal liver metastases. One hundred and five patients with PD to at least one line of chemotherapy were analyzed. Of these, 27 (25.7%) underwent hepatic resection; the rest prosecuted chemotherapy. After inverse probability weighting, the OS values at 1 and 3 years were 54.4 and 10.6% for CHT, and 97.8 and 49.3% for HEP (HR 0.256, 95%CI: 0.08-0.78, p = 0.033). When feasible, hepatic resection could offer a chance of a longer OS than the prosecution of chemotherapy only, even in the case of PD after perioperative treatment. Disease progression (PD) at neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with colorectal liver metastases (CLMs) is considered a contraindication to hepatic resection. Our aim was to estimate the overall survival (OS) in patients undergoing surgery compared with those treated exclusively with chemotherapy in cases of PD. Patients from a single centre with PD were analyzed and subdivided into two groups: hepatectomy (HEP) versus chemotherapy (CHT). An Inverse Probability Weighting (IPW) was run to balance the baseline differences between the two groups. A Cox regression was carried out on identifying factors predicting mortality. From 2010 to 2020, 105 patients in PD to at least one line of chemotherapy were analyzed. Of these, 27 (25.7%) underwent hepatic resection. After a median follow-up of 30 (IQR 14-46) months, 61.9% were dead. The OS values at 1 and 3 years were 54.4 and 10.6% for CHT, and 95 and 46.8% for HEP (p < 0.001). After IPW, two balanced pseudopopulations were obtained: HEP = 85 and CHT = 103. The OS values at 1 and 3 years were 54.4 and 10.6% for CHT, and 97.8 and 49.3% for HEP (HR 0.256, 95%CI: 0.08-0.78, p = 0.033). After IPW, in the multivariate model, surgery resulted in the only protective variable (HR 0.198, 95%CI: 0.08-0.48, p = 0.0016). Our results show that hepatic resection could offer a chance of a longer OS than the prosecution of chemotherapy only in originally resectable patients.

Automated summary

This study aimed to compare the overall survival (OS) rate between patients undergoing hepatectomy and those treated exclusively with chemotherapy in cases of disease progression (PD) after perioperative chemotherapy for colorectal liver metastases (CLMs). A total of 105 patients with PD to at least one line of chemotherapy were analyzed, with 27 undergoing hepatic resection and the rest receiving chemotherapy. After inverse probability weighting, the OS values at 1 and 3 years were significantly higher for hepatectomy (97.8% and 49.3%) compared to chemotherapy (54.4% and 10.6%).