The doctors from the institute of liver diseases, transplant and surgery MGM Healthcare, a multi-speciality quaternary care hospital, Chennai, today announced the successful outcome of a complex innovative multimodal procedure for multiple Synchronous Liver Metastases in stage 4 colorectal cancer patients. As per the hospital, probably it is the first time in the country that such complex stage 4 colorectal cancer was operated on in a single sitting.

A 60-year-old lady from Chennai was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer junction of colon and rectum (large intestine) with multiple metastatic spread in the liver (9 lesions in different areas occupying most of the liver). She also experienced weight loss and loss of appetite further hampering her physical movements.

She travelled to different cancer hospitals and was informed that her disease is not curable and had only few months of life left. Dr. Thiagarajan after a thorough analysis of the case informed the patient and her family that cancer could be cured with innovative treatment and she was asked to follow up with Dr Arun Ramanan, Medical oncologist for further treatment. The family after consultation with the doctors at MGM Healthcare gave their consent for the complex surgery.

Dr. Thiagarajan elaborated about the case and said, "We decided to go ahead with a single-stage surgery for complex synchronous liver metastasis and the rectal cancer of the patient. We recreated the surgery through 3D volumetry of the lesions and future liver remnants and 3D reconstruction were undertaken by an expert radiologist team. A detailed 3D simulation of surgical removal all the nine liver lesions was virtually undertaken by the team before the surgery because excess removal of the liver would have led to liver failure and inadequate removal of lesions will cause recurrence of cancer and reduce the lifespan of the patient."

He further added, "The patient underwent a single-stage removal of all nine lesions of liver and removal of cancer of colon and rectum with a diversion stoma. She underwent post-operative biological tumour antibody therapy and cancer chemotherapy for 6 months. We are happy to report that a rigorous follow-up of 8 months the patient is completely cured of cancer with no detectable tumour in whole of her body which was confirmed by a PETCT scan."

He added, "She has also managed to gain back her weight and is now able to lead a normal and healthy life after the restoration of the stoma. We salute the spirit of the patient and her family and thank them for placing their trust in our team. This story gives hope to a lot of patients with advanced colorectal cancer with liver metastasis to live a long life."

The doctor added that Colorectal cancer is the sixth commonest cancer in India, with 5 new cases occurring for every one lakh persons in a year with the incidence rising by 20% every decade. Stage-1 colorectal cancer has 90% 5-year survival after multimodal therapy whereas stage-4 colorectal cancer has only a 10% 5-year survival rate. The rising cases can be attributed to changing lifestyles that include consumption of calorie-rich and low fibre diet, excessive use of red meat and processed foods, and physical inactivity.

Stage 4 Colorectal Cancers with only liver spread are unique in a way that they can be treated with a unique treatment which is a combination of complex and innovative single or staged surgeries, chemotherapy, targeted biological tumour antibody therapy, radiotherapy and in rare cases even liver transplantation. These efforts can result in an increase of the 5-year survival rate to 60 % which can be the best among all the cancers.

Dr. Karthik Mathivanan, Associate Director said, "Colorectal cancer is the 5th leading cause of cancer death in India as most of the cases are diagnosed in the advanced stage. 20-25% of colorectal cancer patients present with liver metastases. As the liver has the capacity to regenerate extensive liver resection up to 70% is possible for multiple liver lesions and to have curative surgery is a feasible option. There is lack of awareness and we recommend routine annual screening for people above 45 years with a colonoscopy that will help us nip it in the bud. It's unfortunate that only <5% of the adult population are screened annually in the country."