Improving Outcomes in Resected Colorectal Liver Metastases: Risk-Stratified Chemotherapy and Aggressive Integration of Thermal Ablation
A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Cancer Metastasis".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 1254
Special Issue Editor
Interests: colorectal liver metastases; hepatocellular carcinoma; liver resection; conversion surgery; tumor biomarkers; interventional radiology; functional liver assessment; personalized multimodal treatment
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Indications for liver resection in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) have expanded substantially, and long-term survival has improved dramatically with advances in surgical techniques and systemic therapy. Nevertheless, postoperative recurrence remains frequent even after curative-intent resection. This underscores the need for refined, individualized treatment strategies rather than uniformly applied perioperative approaches.
Recurrence risk is driven not only by tumor burden but also by biological aggressiveness. Tumor markers such as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), together with RAS mutation status, have demonstrated prognostic relevance, while circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) provides insights into minimal residual disease and early relapse. Integrating these serological and molecular biomarkers enables more accurate risk stratification and optimized selection for preoperative or perioperative chemotherapy, while avoiding overtreatment in low-risk populations.
In parallel, thermal ablation has evolved beyond a palliative modality and is increasingly incorporated into curative-intent strategies. Aggressive integration of thermal ablation, combined with hepatectomy or applied selectively, may enhance local control while preserving functional liver reserve.
This Special Issue highlights recent advances in biomarker-driven, risk-stratified chemotherapy and the aggressive integration of thermal ablation to improve outcomes in patients with resected CRLM, fostering personalized and multimodal treatment strategies.
Dr. Toru Beppu
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- colorectal liver metastases (CRLM)
- liver resection
- systemic chemotherapy
- recurrence-risk stratification
- carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)
- carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9)
- circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)
- RAS mutation
- thermal ablation
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