Radiofrequency ablation versus resection for resectable liver metastases of gastrointestinal stromal tumours: Results from three national centres in China.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to compare outcomes after curative intent radiofrequency ablation and resection in patients with resectable liver metastases of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours (GISTs) after pre-operative tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment.

METHODS

We retrospectively analysed data from 25 patients diagnosed with resectable liver metastases from GISTs who received pre-operative TKI treatment, who received radiofrequency ablation or resection and post-operative TKI treatment, and who were admitted to 3 institutions from January 2009 to December 2017.

RESULTS

Ten patients (10/25, 40.00%) underwent RFA combined with post-operative TKI treatment, and 15 (15/25, 60.00%) patients were treated with hepatic resection combined with post-operative TKI treatment. There were fewer post-operative complications (10.00% vs. 53.33%, P = 0.04) and shorter length of stay (4 vs. 9 days, P = 0.00) in the RFA group. After a median follow-up of 26 months, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 100.00%, 75.00%, 55.00%, respectively. The RFA group had a lower median PFS (P = 0.007, mPFS: 9 months versus 29 months), but overall survival was not influenced by the treatment modality compared with the resection group (P = 0.413, mOS: 47 months versus not reached).Hepatic resection combined with post-operative TKI treatment was the only prognostic factor for PFS in univariate analysis (HR = 0.071, 95% CI: 0.007-0.759, P = 0.029).

CONCLUSIONS

For patients with resectable liver metastases from GISTs after receiving pre-operative TKI treatment, compared with resection, ablation seemed to be associated with shorter progression-free survival, but RFA offered comparable overall survival, and the post- procedure morbidity and lengths of stay were significantly lower. With complete ablation of the targeted tumours, our results suggest that RFA is an acceptable option in selected patients.