Laparoscopic liver resection for colorectal liver metastases: retrospective analysis of prognostic factors and oncological outcomes in a single-center cohort

Purpose: Laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) has gained acceptance as an effective treatment for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) in selected patients, providing similar oncologic outcomes compared to open liver resection (OLR). The aim of this study was to determine prognostic factors for survival outcomes associated with LLR for CRLM.

Methods: A single-center retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database was performed. The inclusion period ranged from September 2011 until mid-March 2020.

Results: Two hundred consecutive LLRs were included. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates equalled 54.8% and 49%, respectively. A pushing (HR = 5.42, 95% CI 1.56-18.88, p = 0.008), as well as a replacement (3.87, 1.05-14.2, p = 0.04) growth pattern of the CRLM, poor differentiation of the primary colorectal cancer (CRC) (3.72, 1.72-8.07, p < 0.001) and administration of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) (2.95, 1.28-6.8, p = 0.01) were identified as independent predictors of a worse OS. Requirement of more than 6 cycles of NAC (6.17, 2.37-16.03, p < 0.001), a replacement (4.96, 1.91-12.87, p < 0.001), as well as a pushing (4.3, 1.68-11, p = 0.002) growth pattern of the CRLM and poor differentiation of the primary CRC (2.61, 1.31-5.2, p = 0.006) were identified as independent predictors of a worse DFS.

Conclusion: LLR for CRLM offers adequate long-term oncologic outcomes. OS and DFS rates are negatively affected by the administration of NAC and by pathological features, including the differentiation grade of the primary CRC and the histological growth pattern of the CRLM.