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Hepatic Resection for Liver Metastases as Part of the “Oncosurgical” Treatment of Metastatic Breast Cancer

  • Hepatic and Pancreatic Tumors
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Metastatic breast cancer is considered an incurable disease despite new therapies. Recent studies suggest that liver resection associated with systemic treatment may improve patient survival.

Patients and methods

Patient selection criteria were: good performance status, the feasibility of a complete and safe surgical procedure, and absence of uncontrolled extrahepatic metastases. The information was collected prospectively and analyzed retrospectively from our database.

Results

Between 1988 and 2006, 13 liver resections were performed in 12 patients owing to metastatic breast cancer. Two patients had synchronous metastases and ten metachronous metastases. One patient had extrahepatic bone metastases at the time of liver resection. Median follow-up was 35.9 months (range 12–113.4 months). Median age at liver resection was 58.4 years (range 36–76 years). Median hospital stay was 8 days (range 6–24 days); two patients had biliary leak but none died during the postoperative course. Seven patients (58.3%) developed hepatic recurrence. One-, 3-, and 5-year actuarial patient survival was 100%, 79%, and 33%, respectively. Patients who developed liver metastases within the first 24 months and after the first 24 months post-breast surgery had 1-, 3-, and 5-year actuarial patient survival of 100%, 0%, and 0% and 100%, 83%, and 60%, respectively (P < 0.025).

Conclusion

Liver resection for breast cancer liver metastases has an important role in the oncosurgical treatment of metastatic breast cancer with excellent 3-year survival.

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Aknowledgements

Miss Christine O’Hara is thanked for valuable revision of the English version of the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hepatobiliopancreatic Surgery and Transplants, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Paseo Vall d’Hebron119-129, Barcelona, 08035, Spain

    Mireia Caralt MD, Itxarone Bilbao PhD, Alfredo Escartín PhD, José Luís Lázaro MD, Cristina Dopazo PhD, Jorge Juan Olsina PhD, Joaquim Balsells PhD & Ramon Charco PhD

  2. Department of Oncology, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, Spain

    Javier Cortés PhD

Authors
  1. Mireia Caralt MD
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  2. Itxarone Bilbao PhD
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  3. Javier Cortés PhD
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  4. Alfredo Escartín PhD
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  5. José Luís Lázaro MD
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  6. Cristina Dopazo PhD
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  9. Ramon Charco PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mireia Caralt MD.

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Caralt, M., Bilbao, I., Cortés, J. et al. Hepatic Resection for Liver Metastases as Part of the “Oncosurgical” Treatment of Metastatic Breast Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol 15, 2804–2810 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-008-0072-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-008-0072-2

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