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World J Gastroenterol. Sep 21, 2014; 20(35): 12391-12406
Published online Sep 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i35.12391
Colorectal cancer with liver metastases: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy, surgical resection first or palliation alone?
Khurum Khan, Anita Wale, Gina Brown, Ian Chau
Khurum Khan, Ian Chau, Gastrointestinal Unit, the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton SM2 5PT, United Kingdom
Anita Wale, Gina Brown, Department of Radiology, the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton SM2 5PT, United Kingdom
Author contributions: Khan K, Wale A, Brown G and Chau I contributed equally to this work in designing and writing this review.
Supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and Institute of Cancer Research and the Robert McAlpine Charity (partly, for Khurum Khan)
Correspondence to: Dr. Ian Chau, MD, FRCP, Consultant in Medical Oncology, Gastrointestinal Unit, the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Fulham Rd, Sutton SM2 5PT, United Kingdom. ian.chau@rmh.nhs.uk
Telephone: +44-20-86613582 Fax: +44-20-866613890
Received: December 5, 2013
Revised: January 30, 2014
Accepted: May 29, 2014
Published online: September 21, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: Colorectal cancer is one of the commonest cancers in the world. The management of metastatic colorectal cancer has changed significantly in last decade or so; primarily based on better understanding of the molecular complexity of colorectal cancer coupled with aggressive approach in management of colorectal liver metastases. Colorectal liver metastasises were once considered as incurable disease but with better treatment options and valuable input from multi-disciplinary teams, this disease can be cured in a proportion of patients. This review takes into account various clinical scenarios and their complexity that the clinicians may face during management of this disease.