Although response rates to HAC have been shown to be higher than response rates to systemic chemotherapy, the advantage in terms of survival has been debated. Furthermore, HAC requires surgical catheter placement which adds to the cost and morbidity of treatment. The present paper analyses the results of these trials with particular reference to survival. Vahrmeijer AL, van Dierendonck JH, van de Velde CJ Treatment of colorectal cancer metastases confined to the liver. Department of Surgery, University Hospital, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Hepatic metastases are a major cause of death in patients with disseminated colorectal cancer.
The prognosis of patients with hepatic metastases is very poor and mainly determined by the extent of hepatic disease at presentation.