Ercolani G, et al. - Researchers here investigated the role of liver resection for metastatic breast carcinoma. For metastases from breast cancer, liver resection appeared to be a safe and effective treatment, and could result in encouraging long-term survival with acceptable risk in selected patients. The best prognostic factors identified were tumors less than 5 cm and positive hormone receptor status.

Methods

• Researchers reviewed 51 resected patients.
• After resection of the primary tumor, all patients were administered adjuvant chemotherapy.
• They performed an evaluation of clinicopathological characteristics and immunohistochemistry expression of estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR), human epidermal growth factor (HER2), or Ki67.

Results

• In this study, the median number of metastases was 2; 24 (47%) patients had single metastases.
• Researchers noted the median tumor diameter of 4 cm.
• Thirty (61%) patients underwent major hepatectomies.
• No postoperative mortality was observed.
• Postoperative morbidity of 13.7% was evident.
• Survival rates at 1-, 5-, and 10-year were 92, 36, and 16% respectively.
• Eleven (21.6%) patients had longer than 5 years survival, and 8.9% were alive without recurrence 10 years after surgery.
• The univariate analysis revealed a significant relation of tumor diameter, lymph node status, PR receptor status, and triple positive receptors (ER+/PR+/Her2+) with survival.
• The multivariate analysis revealed a significant relation of tumor diameter, PR receptor, and triple negative status with the long-term outcome.