Hepatectomy Followed by Adjuvant Chemotherapy with 3-Month Capecitabine Plus Oxaliplatin for Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases

Lessons learned: Three-month adjuvant capecitabine plus oxaliplatin in combination (CAPOX) appeared to reduce recurrence, with mild toxicity in postcurative resection of colorectal cancer liver metastases (CLM). Recurrence in patients who underwent the 3-month adjuvant CAPOX after resection of CLM was most commonly at extrahepatic sites.

Background: The role of neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy in the management of initially resectable colorectal cancer liver metastases (CLM) is still unclear. We evaluated the feasibility of 3-month adjuvant treatment with capecitabine plus oxaliplatin in combination (CAPOX) for postcurative resection of CLM.

Methods: Patients received one cycle of capecitabine followed by four cycles of CAPOX as adjuvant chemotherapy after curative resection of CLM. Oral capecitabine was given as 1,000 mg/m² twice daily for 2 weeks in a 3-week cycle, and CAPOX consisted of oral capecitabine plus oxaliplatin 130 mg/m² on day 1 in a 3-week cycle. Primary endpoint was the completion rate of adjuvant chemotherapy. Secondary endpoints included recurrence-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS), dose intensity, and safety.

Results: Twenty-eight patients were enrolled. Median age was 69.5 years, 54% of patients had synchronous metastases, and 29% were bilobar. Mean number of lesions resected was two, and mean size of the largest lesion was 31 mm. Among patients, 20 (71.4%; 95% confidence interval, 53.6%-89.3%) completed the protocol treatment and met its primary endpoint. The most common grade 3 or higher toxicity was neutropenia (29%). Five-year recurrence-free survival and overall survival were 65.2% and 87.2%, respectively.

Conclusion: Three-month adjuvant treatment with CAPOX is tolerable and might be a promising strategy for postcurative resection of CLM.