Significance of Radiofrequency Ablation for Unresectable Colorectal Cancer With Liver Metastases

Abstract

Background/aim: We aimed to investigate the prognosis of patients who received radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for liver metastases of unresectable colorectal cancer (CRC).

Patients and methods: We retrospectively compared 147 patients treated for CRC liver metastases, who underwent RFA (n=26), resection (n=92), and chemotherapy (n=29) between 2001 and 2021.

Results: RFA and chemotherapy were performed for unresectable or non-operable cases, and resection was performed for suitable cases. The median overall survival (OS) was 44.9, 49.5, and 11.6 months for patients who underwent RFA, resection, and chemotherapy, respectively. RFA led to a significantly shorter OS compared to resection (p=0.027) but to a longer OS compared to chemotherapy (p=0.003). The 5-year survival rates were 34.6% and 42.4% for patients who underwent RFA and resection, respectively (p=0.508).

Conclusion: RFA has the potential to achieve long-term survival or radical cure, even for unresectable or non-operable cases of CRC with liver metastasis.

Keywords: Colorectal cancer; chemotherapy; liver metastasis; prognosis; radiofrequency ablation; resection.