Long-term survivor with liver metastases from rectal cancer treated by hepatectomy after hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy.

A 58-year-old man who had rectal cancer with synchronous hepatic metastases of bilateral lobe is described in this case report. Anterior resection for rectal cancer was performed, and subsequent hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) chemotherapy for liver metastases was continued. Nine months later, although right hepatic metastases showed complete remission after chemotherapy, metastases of the left lateral segment were still remained. Left lateral segmentectomy of the liver was performed. HAI chemotherapy has continued for 17 months after hepatectomy to prevent intrahepatic recurrence of the tumor. The patient has been no evidence of recurrence including hepatic metastasis, and he is still doing well 8 years after initial HAI chemotherapy. A review of the literature reveals that this patient has survived longer than any other patient has with hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer treated by this approach. We suggest that this form of therapy should be considered for future patients.