Contemporary evidence on colorectal liver metastases ablation: toward a paradigm shift in locoregional treatment.

Yuan-Mao Lin; Bale, Reto; Brock, Kristy K.; Odisio, Bruno C.

Image-guided percutaneous ablation techniques represent an attractive local therapy for the treatment of colorectal liver metastases (CLM) given its low risk of severe complications, which allows for early initiation of adjuvant therapies and spare functional liver parenchyma, allowing repeated treatments at the time of recurrence. However, ablation does not consistently achieve similar oncological outcomes to surgery, with the latter being currently considered the first-line local treatment modality in international guidelines. Recent application of computer-assisted ablation planning, guidance, and intraprocedural response assessment has improved percutaneous ablation outcomes. In addition, the evolving understanding of tumor molecular profiling has brought to light several biological factors associated with oncological outcomes following local therapies. The standardization of ablation procedures, the understanding of previously unknown biological factors affecting ablation outcomes, and the evidence by ongoing prospective clinical trials are poised to change the current perspective and indications on the use of ablation for CLM.

COLORECTAL liver metastasis; ONCOLOGIC surgery; ABLATION techniques; TREATMENT effectiveness; CHEMORADIOTHERAPY

International Journal of Hyperthermia, 2022, Vol 39, Issue 1, p649

0265-6736

Academic Journal

10.1080/02656736.2021.1970245