Assessing the Impact of Primary Tumour Location on Survival After Resection of Colorectal Liver Metastases: A Propensity Weighted Retrospective Cohort Study.

backgroundRight-sided colonic tumours appear to have poorer survival after resection of colorectal liver metastases, although this may be confounded by various factors including advanced stage and emergency presentation.

methodsMedical records of consecutive patients undergoing resection of colorectal liver metastases at a single centre from 2008 to 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Cases were categorised by primary tumour location (right colon, left colon, rectum). Each primary location was weighted using propensity scores to balance covariates, including staging and mode of presentation. Cox regression was then applied to derive multivariable hazard ratios (HR) of survival after liver resection. Primary outcomes were 10-year overall survival (OS) and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) after liver resection based on PTL.

results414 patients were included in the analysis. Left colonic tumours were significantly associated with higher rates of bilobar liver metastasis (36.2% vs. 20.1% and 30.1%) and larger maximum size of liver metastases compared with rectal and right-sided tumours, respectively. There was no difference in rates of extra-hepatic metastases, recurrence in the liver after resection or RAS, BRAF or p53 mutational status. After propensity weighting and Cox-regression, right-sided tumours were independently associated with significantly reduced 10 year OS (HR 1.56, 95% CI 1.03-2.36, p = 0.04) but not 5 year DFS (HR 1.36, 95% CI 0.89-2.08, p = 0.15).

conclusionsCompared with left colonic and rectal tumours, right-sided colonic tumours are independently associated with inferior OS after resection of CRLM. This is despite higher rates of bilobar liver metastases and larger metastases with left-sided tumours.