Table 1.
Overview of eligible studies included
| Study | Title | Publication year | Time period | Location | Male | Female | Primary in colon | Primary in rectum | Synchronous CRLM |
Metachronous CRLM |
Desmoplastic CRLM (%) | Pushing CRLM (%) | Replacement CRLM (%) |
Mixed CRLM (%) |
Capsule independent | Outcome assessed | Preoperative chemo |
| van Dam et al 18 | International consensus guidelines for scoring the histopathological growth patterns of liver metastasis | 2017 | 2000–2015 | Department of Surgical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute (Rotterdam, The Netherlands) | 241 | 133 | 204 | 170 | 243 (defined as <1 year) | 131 | 49 | 3 | 47 | 1, excluded from survival analysis; >50% predominance was considered sufficient |
N | Y | ≥44% of patients |
| Frentzas et al,27 London cohort | Vessel co-option mediates resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy in liver metastases | 2016 | 2006–2012 | The Royal Marsden Hospital (RM), London, UK | 21 | 12 | 12 | 21 | NA | NA | 52.5 | 1.7 | 45.8 | NA | N | Y | All bev+chemo |
| Frentzas et al,27 Montréal cohort | Vessel co-option mediates resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy in liver metastases | 2016 | 2008–2014 | McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), Montréal, Canada | 35 | 24 | 39 | 20 | NA | NA | 51.6 | 3.1 | 45.3 | NA | N | Y | All bev+chemo |
| Siriwardana et al 28 | Biological and prognostic significance of the morphological types and vascular patterns in colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) looking beyond the tumor margin | 2016 | 1998–2008 | Royal Free Hospital, London, UK |
18 | 8 | 18 | 6 | 7 | 19 | 43.3 | NA | 43.3 | 10 | N | Y | N |
| Serrablo et al 29 | Impact of novel histopathological factors on the outcomes of liver surgery for colorectal cancer metastases | 2016 | 2004–2010 | NA, Spain and/or Italy | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 17 | 52.3 | 46.3 | NA | Y | Y | Reported separately |
| Eefsen et al 13 | Microvessel density and endothelial cell proliferation levels in colorectal liver metastases from patients given neo-adjuvant cytotoxic chemotherapy and bevacizumab | 2015 (print 2016) |
2007–2011 | Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark | 146 | 91 | 162 | 75 | 146 | 91 | 29.5 | 37.1 | 14.8 | 18.6 | N | N (for same cohort in ref 15) | Reported separately |
| Brunner et al 30 | Prognosis according to histochemical analysis of liver metastases removed at liver resection | 2014 | 2004–2010 | Regensburg, Germany | 118 | 83 | 119 | 82 | NA | NA | 37.8 | NA | NA | NA | N | Y | Reported separately |
| Pinheiro et al 31 | Tumor growth pattern as predictor of colorectal liver metastasis recurrence | 2014 | 2000–2009 | NA, likely Sao Paulo, Brazil | 50 | 41 | NA | NA | 43 | 48 | NA | 40.7 | 59.3 | NA | N | Y | Reported separately |
| Wiggans et al 32 | Extended pathology reporting of resection specimens of colorectal liver metastases: the significance of a tumour pseudocapsule | 2012 (print 2013) |
2010–2011 | Derriford Hospital, UK | 40 | 26 | NA | NA | 38 | 28 | 41.5 | NA | NA | NA | N | Y | Mixed |
| Nyström et al 33 | Liver-metastatic potential of colorectal cancer is related to the stromal composition of the tumour | 2012 | 1998–2009 | Västerbotten County, Sweden |
25 | 23 | 29 | 18 | NA | NA | 45.8 | 52.1 | NA | NA | N | Y | Mixed |
| Van Den Eynden et al 14 | The histological growth pattern of colorectal cancer liver metastases has prognostic value | 2012 | 1997–2005 | Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK | NA | NA | 104 | 91 | 101 | 98 | 34.6 | 15.6 | 27.8 | 17.6 | N | Y | NA |
| Rajaganeshan et al 34 | Biological characteristics and behaviour of putatively curatively resected colorectal liver metastases | 2007 (print 2008) |
1993–2004 | St James’s University Hospital, Leeds, UK |
60 | 49 | NA | NA | 19 | 90 | 34.8 | NA | NA | NA | N | Y | Untreated group reported in ref 46 |
| Stessels et al 35 | Breast adenocarcinoma liver metastases, in contrast to colorectal cancer liver metastases, display a non-angiogenic growth pattern that preserves the stroma and lacks hypoxia | 2004 | NA | General Hospital Sint-Augustinus and of the University Hospital of Antwerp, Belgium |
NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 50 | 17.9 | 32.1 | NA | N | N | NA |
| Terayama et al 36 | Peritumoral rim enhancement of liver metastasis: hemodynamics observed on single-level dynamic CT during hepatic arteriography and histopathologic correlation | 2002 | NA | Kanazawa University School of Medicine, Japan | 24 | 5 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 10.5 | NA | NA | NA | N | N | NA |
| Yamaguchi et al 37 | Mode of infiltrative growth of colorectal liver metastases is a useful predictor of recurrence after hepatic resection | 2002 | 1981–1998 | Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Japan |
NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 38.1 | 61.9 | NA | N | Y | NA |
| Vermeulen et al 12 | Liver metastases from colorectal adenocarcinomas grow in three patterns with different angiogenesis and desmoplasia | 2001 | NA | University Hospital Antwerp and AZ Sint-Augustinus, Belgium | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 42.3 | 46.2 | 11.5 | NA | N | N | Excluded |
| Weber et al 38 | Is a proliferation index of cancer cells a reliable prognostic factor after hepatectomy in patients with colorectal liver metastases? | 2001 | 1988–1998 | Hôpital Universitaire de Hautepierre, Strasbourg, France | 132 | 89 | 142 | 76 | 90 | 131 | 28.5 | 34.8 | 65.2 | NA | Y | Y | NA |
| Lunevicius et al 39 | Clinicopathological significance of fibrotic capsule formation around liver metastasis from colorectal cancer | 2001 | 1983–1997 | Aichi Cancer Center, Japan |
NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | 20.3 | NA | NA | NA | N | Y | NA |
| Okano et al 40 | Fibrous pseudocapsule of metastatic liver tumors from colorectal carcinoma: clinicopathologic study of 152 first resection cases | 2000 | 1992–1996 | National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan | 104 | 48 | NA | NA | 46 | 106 | 61.1 | NA | NA | NA | N | Y | NA |
| Ambiru et al 41 | Hepatic resection for colorectal metastases: analysis of prognostic factors | 1999 | 1984–1997 | Chiba University School of Medicine, Japan | 104 | 62 | 109 | 53 | 71 | 91 | 27.9 | NA | NA | NA | N | Y | NA |
| Nagashima et al 11 | Histopathological prognostic factors influencing long-term prognosis after surgical resection for hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer | 1999 | 1981–1994 | Tokyo University Hospital, Japan | 48 | 11 | NA | NA | 24 | 35 | 80 | 91.5 | 8.5 | NA | Y | Y | NA |
| Terayama et al 42 | Histologic growth patterns of metastatic carcinomas of the liver | 1996 | NA | Kanazawa University School of Medicine, Japan |
6 | 7 | 13 | NA | NA | NA | 15.4 | 76.9 | 7.7 | NA | N | N | NA |
| Yamamoto et al 43 | Pathologic support for limited hepatectomy in the treatment of liver metastases from colorectal cancer | 1995 | 1991–1992 | National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan | 26 | 14 | 27, multiple primaries | 12, multiple primaries | 8 | 32 | 70 | NA | NA | NA | N | N | NA |
| Morino et al 44 | Clinico-pathological features of liver metastases from colorectal cancer in relation to prognosis | 1991 | 1980–1986 | Kyoto University Hospital, Japan | 16 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 27.6 | 20.7 | 34.5 | 41.4 | Y | Y | NA |
Clinicopathological data were extracted as specified in the Methods section.
bev, bevacizumab; chemo, conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy; CRLM, colorectal cancer liver metastases; N, no; NA, not available; Y, yes.