Comprehensive Evaluation of Relapse Risk (CERR) Score for Colorectal Liver Metastases: Development and Validation

Abstract

Background: The calculation of the tumor burden score (TBS) is not perfect because the bilobar spread of colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) is neglected. The identification of an ideal prognostic scoring system for CRLM remains controversial.

Materials and methods: Patients who underwent curative intent liver resection for CRLM from one medical center were enrolled in cohort 1 (787 patients) and cohort 2 (162 patients). Tumor relapse-free survival (RFS) was the main outcome. A Cox regression model was used to identify independent predictors of prognosis. The time-dependent area under the curve, calibration curve, and C-index were employed to validate the predictive ability of the survival model.

Results: Modified TBS (mTBS) was established by a mathematical equation with parameters including CRLM size, CRLM number, and unilobar or bilobar metastasis. Five preoperative predictors of worse RFS were identified in cohort 1 and incorporated into the Comprehensive Evaluation of Relapse Risk (CERR) score: KRAS/NRAS/BRAF-mutated tumor (1 point); node-positive primary (1 point); extrahepatic disease (1 point); carcinoembryonic antigen level > 200 ng/mL or carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) >200 U/mL (1 point); and mTBS between 5 and 11 (1 point) or 12 and over (2 points). Patients in cohort 1 were stratified by their CERR score into risk groups: the high-risk group (CERR score 4 or more), the medium-risk group (CERR score 2-3), and the low-risk group (CERR score 0-1). Importantly, internal validation in cohort 1 and further validation in cohort 2 both showed the superior discriminatory capacity of the CERR score.

Conclusion: mTBS should be promoted. The CERR score is a powerful prognostic tool that can help determine optimal clinical management strategies.

Implications for practice: This work resulted in the successful modification of the tumor burden score and development of a comprehensive and practical prognostic scoring system-the Comprehensive Evaluation of Relapse Risk (CERR) score. The CERR score, with a better prognostic discriminatory ability, outperformed the Fong score. Perhaps more importantly, the CERR score is a powerful prognostic tool because it unified the most consistently reported prognostic factors. Therefore, the CERR score can assist doctors in determining optimal clinical management strategies.

Keywords: Colorectal cancer; Hepatectomy; Metastasis; Prognosis; Relapse.