Table 1.
Baseline data for the study cohort
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Patients (n = 88) |
|
| Male, n (%) |
57 (65) |
| Female, n (%) |
31 (35) |
| Mean age ± SD, years |
67.8 ± 0.84 |
| Primary tumor |
|
| Colon, n (%) |
69 (78) |
| Rectum, n (%) |
19 (22) |
| Node status |
|
| Positive, n (%) |
65 (74) |
| Negative, n (%) |
23 (26) |
| Colorectal liver metastases (CLM) |
|
| Synchronous, n (%) |
22 (25) |
| Metachronous, n (%) |
66 (75) |
| Mean number ± SD |
2.7 ± 0.13 |
| Number of 1–3 CLM, n (%) |
67 (76) |
| Number of 4–5 CLM, n (%) |
21 (24) |
| Mean maximum size ± SD, cm |
3.1 ± 0.1 |
| Maximum size ≤ 3 cm, n (%) |
51 (65) |
| Maximum size 3–5 cm, n (%) |
27 (35) |
| CEA levels before RFA, ng/mL |
|
| Mean CEA level ± SD |
132.2 ± 16.3 |
| CEA ≤ 100, n (%) |
51 (58) |
| CEA > 100, n (%) |
37 (42) |
| Main cause of unresectability |
|
| Expected liver remnant ≤ 30%, n (%) |
19 (22) |
| Proximity to critical structures, n (%) |
22 (25) |
| Medical comorbidity, n (%) |
37 (42) |
| Patient refusal, n (%) |
10 (11) |
| Systemic therapies before RFA |
|
| Mean number of lines ± SD |
1.5 ± 0.07 |
| 5-Fluorouracile, n (%) |
36 (41) |
| 5-Fluorouracil, Leucovorin, Oxaliplatin (FOLFOX), n (%) |
59 (67) |
| 5-Fluorouracil, Leucovorin, Irinotecan (FOLFIRI), n (%) |
41 (47) |
| + Bevacizumab, n (%) |
13 (15) |
| + Cetuximab, n (%) |
5 (6) |
| Systemic therapies before and after RFA |
|
| Mean number of lines ± SD |
3.1 ± 0.1 |
| 5-Fluorouracile, n (%) |
57 (65) |
| 5-Fluorouracil, Leucovorin, Oxaliplatin (FOLFOX), n (%) |
81 (92) |
| 5-Fluorouracil, Leucovorin, Irinotecan (FOLFIRI), n (%) |
82 (93) |
| + Bevacizumab, n (%) |
40 (45) |
| + Cetuximab, n (%) |
16 (18) |
| Response to the immediate systemic therapy before RFA |
|
| Partial remission, n (%) |
49 (56) |
| Stable disease, n (%) |
13 (15) |
| Progressive disease, n (%) |
26 (29) |
| Recurrence after RFA |
|
| Median time to recurrence, months (range) |
8 (1–24) |
| Local tumor progression (RFA-site), n (%) |
8 (9) |
| Intrahepatic recurrence, n (%) |
33 (37) |
| Extrahepatic recurrence, n (%) |
14 (16) |
| Intra-/and extrahepatic recurrence, n (%) |
27 (31) |
| No recurrence, n (%) | 6 (7) |
Abbreviations: CEA, carcinoembryonic antigen; CLM, colorectal liver metastases; RFA, radiofrequency ablation; SD, standard deviation.