Serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in patients with colorectal liver metastases: preliminary results of an exploratory prospective study.

PURPOSE: To quantify preoperative serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels in patients undergoing curative resection of colorectal liver metastases and to assess the relationship between NGAL levels and prognostic features in these patients. METHODS: From April 2005 to August 2007, 32 patients operated on for first curative resection of colorectal liver metastases underwent determination of preoperative serum NGAL. Patients were divided into four homogeneous clinical groups and into two risk groups based on their clinical risk scores. NGAL levels were corrected by simultaneous creatinine levels to avoid bias due to renal failure. RESULTS: Higher values of corrected NGAL levels (CNL) were found in patients of the high-risk group (94.53+/-56.18 vs 57.87+/-24.49, p=0.014). Patients with more than three tumor nodules had higher values of CNL compared to patients with three or fewer nodules (101.78+/-56.35 vs 58.57+/-27.24, p=0.008). Patients with disease involving both hepatic lobes had higher CNL levels than those with involvement of a single lobe (106.5+/-59.13 vs 59.01+/-26.69, p=0.005). Patients with higher clinical risk scores had significantly higher CNL. CONCLUSIONS: CNL are associated with the considered prognostic clinical factors and scores, suggesting a possible role for CNL as a prognosis-related indicator and a neoplastic tissue volume marker in patients with colorectal liver metastases.

Prognostic factors and time-related changes influence results of colorectal liver metastases surgical treatment: a single-center analysis.

AIM: To analyze the prognostic factors involved in survival and cancer recurrence in patients undergoing surgical treatment for colorectal liver metastases (CLM) and to describe the effects of time-related changes on survival and recurrence in these patients. METHODS: From January 1994 to January 2006, 236 patients with CLM underwent surgery with the aim of performing curative resection of neoplastic disease at our institution and 189 (80%) of these patients underwent resection of CLM with curative intention. Preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative data, including primary tumor and CLM pathology results, were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into two time periods: a first period from January 1994 to January 2000 (n = 93), and a second period from February 2000 to January 2006 (n = 143). RESULTS: Global survival at 1, 3 and 5 years in patients undergoing hepatic resection was 91%, 54% and 47%, respectively. Patients with preoperative extrahepatic disease, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels over 20 ng/dL, more than four nodules or extrahepatic invasion at pathological analysis had worse survival. Tumor recurrence rate at 1 year was 48.3%, being more frequent in patients with preoperative and pathological extrahepatic disease and CEA levels over 20 ng/dL. Although patients in the second time period had more adverse prognostic factors, no differences in overall survival and recurrence were observed between the two periods. CONCLUSION: Despite advances in surgical technique and better adjuvant treatments and preoperative imaging, careful patient staging and selection is crucial to continue offering a chance of cure to patients with CLM.