Treatment of Liver Metastases

Choi, Hye Jin

Abstract

Metastatic cancer is frequently found in the liver and represents life-limiting component of dieasease. There have been significant advances in past decades to improve survival for patients with liver metastases. Surgical resection may be curative and should be considered standard therapy for liver-confined metastatic colorectal cancer. Resection showed 30-50% overall 5-year survival. Advances in systemic chemotherapy and local treatment expanded the possibility of resection. For other metastatic tumors to the liver, the role of resection remains to be defined. Several new modalities including intra-arterial chemotherapy, chemoembolization, ablation, and radiation may provide effective palliation. This review discusses the current status and progress in studies on metastatic liver cancer regarding diagnostic modalities and various treatment options.