A case report of two instances of colorectal hepatoid adenocarcinoma, accompanied by a comprehensive literature review

J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2023 Dec;149(20):18241-18252. doi: 10.1007/s00432-023-05488-2. Epub 2023 Nov 10.

Abstract

Objective: The study aimed to explore the clinical and pathological characteristics, survival outcomes, and prognostic factors of colorectal hepatoid adenocarcinoma.

Methods: We performed two cases of colorectal hepatoid adenocarcinoma treated at the Oncology Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University. We also reviewed literature up to the present and performed a retrospective study of colorectal hepatoid adenocarcinoma.

Results: Among the 39 patients included in this study, 28 had primary tumors in the colon, 9 in the rectum, and 2 in the rectosigmoid junction. The median age was 52 years (range 31-75 years); 28 patients (71.8%) were male. Out of the 32 patients for whom survival data were available, 24 patients succumbed to disease-related causes. The median overall survival of 32 patients was 8 months, with 1-year and 2-year overall survival rates of 31.0% and 16.0%, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that depth of infiltration, presence of liver metastases, TNM stage, and the completeness of surgical resection were significantly associated with the overall survival period of colorectal hepatoid adenocarcinoma.

Conclusion: Colorectal hepatoid adenocarcinoma exhibits a high degree of aggressiveness and poor prognosis. The major strategy for early-stage HAC was radical surgery and chemoradiotherapy demonstrates limited efficacy for extending survival.

Keywords: Alpha-fetoprotein; Colorectal cancer; Hepatoid adenocarcinoma; Pathology.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma* / pathology
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Colorectal Neoplasms*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms* / secondary
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Rectum / pathology
  • Retrospective Studies