Feasibility and Short-Term Outcomes in Liver-First Approach: A Spanish Snapshot Study (the RENACI Project).

(1) Background: The liver-first approach may be indicated for colorectal cancer patients with synchronous liver metastases to whom preoperative chemotherapy opens a potential window in which liver resection may be undertaken. This study aims to present the data of feasibility and short-term outcomes in the liver-first approach. (2) Methods: A prospective observational study was performed in Spanish hospitals that had a medium/high-volume of HPB surgeries from 1 June 2019 to 31 August 2020. (3) Results: In total, 40 hospitals participated, including a total of 2288 hepatectomies, 1350 for colorectal liver metastases, 150 of them (11.1%) using the liver-first approach, 63 (42.0%) in hospitals performing <50 hepatectomies/year. The proportion of patients as ASA III was significantly higher in centers performing ≥50 hepatectomies/year (difference: 18.9%; p = 0.0213). In 81.1% of the cases, the primary tumor was in the rectum or sigmoid colon. In total, 40% of the patients underwent major hepatectomies. The surgical approach was open surgery in 87 (58.0%) patients. Resection margins were R0 in 78.5% of the patients. In total, 40 (26.7%) patients had complications after the liver resection and 36 (27.3%) had complications after the primary resection. One-hundred and thirty-two (89.3%) patients completed the therapeutic regime. (4) Conclusions: There were no differences in the surgical outcomes between the centers performing <50 and ≥50 hepatectomies/year. Further analysis evaluating factors associated with clinical outcomes and determining the best candidates for this approach will be subsequently conducted.

Textbook outcomes in the liver-first approach for colorectal liver metastases: prospective multicentre analysis.

BACKGROUND: Textbook outcome is a valuable tool for assessing surgical outcomes. The aim of this study was to analyse textbook-outcome rates in the prospective Spanish National Registry of the Liver-First Approach (RENACI Project) and the factors influencing textbook-outcome achievement. Additionally, a model for assessing a procedure-specific textbook outcome for the liver-first approach was proposed. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of a prospective and multicentre database that included consecutive patients with colorectal cancers and synchronous liver metastases who underwent a liver-first approach between June 2019 and August 2020 was performed. Two types of textbook outcome were measured: classic textbook outcome and liver-first-approach-specific textbook outcome (which included negative margins, no perioperative transfusion, no postoperative major surgical complications, no prolonged length of hospital stay, no readmissions, no mortality, and full treatment completion). The primary endpoint was textbook-outcome rate for a liver-first approach at 90 days. RESULTS: A total of 149 patients were included in the analysis. Classic and liver-first-approach-specific textbook-outcome rates were 71.8 per cent (107 patients) and 46 per cent (69 patients) respectively. Factors significantly associated with liver-first-approach-specific textbook-outcome achievement in the multivariable analysis were the number of metastases (OR 0.82 (95 per cent c.i. 0.73 to 0.92); P = 0.001) and intraoperative blood loss (OR 0.99 (95 per cent c.i. 0.99 to 1.00); P = 0.007). Prolonged length of hospital stay (33 patients, 41 per cent), positive margins (31 patients, 39 per cent), perioperative transfusion (27 patients, 34 per cent), and no full treatment completion (18 patients, 23 per cent) were the items that most frequently prevented liver-first-approach-specific textbook-outcome achievement. CONCLUSION: Liver-first-approach-specific textbook outcome is a promising tool for measuring the quality of care when using the liver-first approach for synchronous colorectal liver metastases.

Analysis of survival and clinicopathological characteristics in patients after liver resection for colorectal liver metastases according to resection margin.

BACKGROUND: Criteria for resectability of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) have been expanded over the last decade along with the improvement in chemotherapy. OBJECTIVE: Analyze the differences in several clinicopathological characteristics and overall survival (OS) between patients who underwent an R0 (tumour margin > 1 mm) or R1 (margin < 1 mm) resection. METHOD: Retrospective study including 144 patients with CRLM who underwent a potentially curative liver surgery between 2010 and 2018. Patients are classified according to their surgical margin status (R0 or R1). OS and 17 clinicopathological variables are compared. RESULTS: Both groups are similar and comparable in all the studied variables: age (p = 0.158), sex (p = 0.675), ASA (p = 0.502), tumour location (p = 0.793), tumoral stadium (p = 0.280), post-colectomy chemotherapy (p = 0.664), CRLM synchronicity (p = 0.983) and location (p = 0.078), CEA at diagnosis (p = 0.735), neoadjuvant chemotherapy (p = 0.403), minor/major hepatectomy (p = 0.415), post-operatory complications (p = 0.822) and mortality (p = 0.535), average hospital stay (p = 0.960), post-operative chemotherapy (p = 0.791) and re-hepatectomy (p = 0.530). No significant differences are found in OS a 1, 3 and 5 years (p = 0.160) between patients with R0 and R1 resection. CONCLUSIONS: We consider indicated hepatectomy in any patient with resectable CRLM in whom an R0 resection can be achieved maintaining an adequate hepatic reserve, regardless of the final microscopic resection margin status.

ANTECEDENTES: El avance en oncología ha contribuido a ampliar las indicaciones quirúrgicas de las metástasis hepáticas (MH) del carcinoma colorrectal (CCR). OBJETIVO: Analizar las diferencias en la supervivencia global (SG) y en determinadas características clinicopatológicas entre pacientes con resección R0 (margen tumoral > 1 mm) y R1 (margen < 1 mm). MÉTODO: Estudio retrospectivo con 144 pacientes con MH de CCR intervenidos con intención curativa entre 2010 y 2018, divididos en dos grupos en función del margen de resección (R0 y R1). Se comparan la SG y 17 características clinicopatológicas. RESULTADOS: Ambos grupos son homogéneos y comparables en todas las variables estudiadas: edad (p = 0.158), sexo (p = 0.675), ASA (p = 0.502), localización del CCR (p = 0.793), estadio tumoral (p = 0.280), quimioterapia (QT) adyuvante poscolectomía (p = 0.664), sincronicidad (p = 0.983) y localización (p = 0.078) de las MH, CEA al diagnóstico (p = 0.735), QT neoadyuvante (p = 0.403), hepatectomía mayor/menor (p = 0.415), complicaciones (p = 0.822) y mortalidad posoperatorias (p = 0.535), estancia media (p = 0.960), QT adyuvante poshepatectomía (p = 0.791) y nueva hepatectomía (p = 0.530). Tampoco se observaron diferencias significativas en la SG a 1, 3 y 5 años (p = 0.160) entre pacientes con resección R0 y R1. CONCLUSIONES: Consideramos indicada la hepatectomía en pacientes con MH resecables con posibilidad de conseguir resecciones R0 manteniendo suficiente remanente hepático, independientemente de la afectación microscópica final del margen tumoral.

Biliary growth of colorectal liver metastasis: case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Intrabiliary growth of colorectal liver metastasis determines their capability of dissemination and relapse. CASE REPORT: 65-year-old woman underwent sigmoidectomy (2011) and left hepatectomy due to liver metastases affecting the bile tract (2014). In 2020 she developed a 2cm tumour in the union of both hepatic ducts. Cholangiocarcinoma was suspected so resection of the main bile duct, the caudate lobe and lymphadenectomy were performed. On immunohistochemical examination, colorectal liver metastasis was confirmed. CONCLUSIONS: Liver metastases should be considered as the most likely diagnosis when bile duct dilatation or intrabiliary growth is seen in patients with a history of colorectal cancer.

INTRODUCCIÓN: El crecimiento biliar de las metástasis hepáticas del cáncer colorrectal (CCR) puede influir en su diseminación y recidiva. CASO CLÍNICO: Mujer de 65 años con antecedente de CCR (2011) y hepatectomía izquierda (2014) por metástasis hepática con afectación de la vía biliar. En 2020 desarrolló una lesión de 2 cm en la unión de los conductos hepáticos. Sospechando un colangiocarcinoma, se resecaron la vía biliar principal y el lóbulo caudado, asociando linfadenectomía. El estudio inmunohistoquímico confirmó el origen intestinal. CONCLUSIONES: Una imagen de dilatación o crecimiento biliar en pacientes con antecedente de CCR debe orientar a una recidiva, aunque la imagen sugiera colangiocarcinoma.