European Journal of Cancer
Volume 45, Issue 10 , Pages 1748-1756, July 2009

A systematic review on the clinical benefit and role of radiofrequency ablation as treatment of colorectal liver metastases

  • Axel Stang

      Affiliations

    • Department of Oncology, Asklepios Hospital Hamburg-Altona, Germany
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author: Address: Department of Hematology and Oncology, Paul-Ehrlich-Straße 1, 22763 Hamburg, Tel.: +49 (0) 40 18 18 81x1308; fax: +49 (0) 40 18 18 81x4904.
    • ,
  • Roman Fischbach

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiology, Asklepios Hospital Hamburg-Altona, Germany
    • ,
  • Wolfgang Teichmann

      Affiliations

    • Department of Surgery, Asklepios Hospital Hamburg-Altona, Germany
    • ,
  • Carsten Bokemeyer

      Affiliations

    • Department of Oncology and Hematology with Section Pneumology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
    • ,
  • Dietrich Braumann

      Affiliations

    • Department of Oncology, Asklepios Hospital Hamburg-Altona, Germany

Received 14 February 2009; accepted 12 March 2009. published online 08 April 2009.

Abstract 

Aim

To evaluate the role of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as treatment of colorectal cancer liver metastases (CLMs).

Method

A PubMed literature search for original articles published until August 2008 was performed. Studies with ⩾40 patients, ⩾18month median follow-up and reported ⩾3year overall survival (OS) rates after RFA of CLM were selected for analysis.

Results

Thirteen clinical series and 8 non-randomised comparative studies were analysed. Median progression free survival after RFA ranged between 6 and 13months. Median and 5-year OS after RFA (RFA plus resection) ranged between 24–59months and 18–40% (36–46months and 27–30%). Comparative studies indicated significantly improved OS after RFA versus chemotherapy alone, RFA plus chemotherapy versus RFA alone and up-front RFA versus RFA following second-line chemotherapy.

Conclusion

Our findings support that RFA prolongs time without toxicity and survival as an adjunct to hepatectomy and/or chemotherapy in well-selected patients, but not as an alternative to resection.

Keywords: Colorectal cancer, Liver metastases, Radiofrequency ablation, Prognosis, Survival

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PII: S0959-8049(09)00197-X

doi:10.1016/j.ejca.2009.03.012

European Journal of Cancer
Volume 45, Issue 10 , Pages 1748-1756, July 2009

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