Impact of Surgical Resection on Metachronous Metastases of Colorectal Cancer According to Tumor Doubling Time.

BACKGROUND/AIM: We aimed to elucidate the prognostic impact of tumor doubling time (DT) and radical surgery when classified by DT in patients with metachronous liver, lung, or peritoneal metastases of colorectal cancer (CRC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We reviewed the data of 1941 patients who underwent curative surgery for CRC and calculated DT for recurrences using computed tomography.

RESULTS

Short DT was an independent prognostic risk factor in liver (p<0.001) and peritoneal (p=0.03) metastases. Survival was significantly better in patients who underwent surgery than in those who did not, both in short and long DT groups in any metastatic organ (p<0.01). Patients with long DT gained significantly better prognostic benefit from surgery than those with short DT in liver (p=0.01) and peritoneal (p=0.04) metastases.

CONCLUSION

Surgery is recommended for resectable metastases, especially in patients with liver and peritoneal metastases with long DT.