PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF PROGNOSTIC FACTORS IN PATIENTS WITH UNRESECTED HEPATIC METASTASES FROM COLORECTAL-CANCER

Prognostic factors of unresected liver metastases in patients with col orectal cancer are not well established. A total of 544 patients with unresected liver metastases from colorectal cancer were registered in a national survey over a 1-year period and followed until death. Twent y factors were studied in a univariate analysis (log rank test) and 16 influenced survival (P<0.01). These 16 factors were entered in a mult ivariate analysis (Cox model) and eight, ranging from the most signifi cant (relative risk of death 1.9) to the less significant (relative ri sk of death 1.2), independently influenced survival: performance statu s, alkaline phosphatase level, number of involved liver segments, admi nistration of chemotherapy, presence of extrahepatic metastases, site of the primary tumour, prothrombin time and resection of the primary l esion. Two simple classifications are proposed, taking into account th e performance status and the alkaline phosphatase level, or the perfor mance status and the number of involved liver segments.