Effect of Portal Vein Chemotherapy on Liver Metastasis after Surgical Resection of Colorectal Cancer

Objective: To explore the effect of portal vein chemotherapy on liver metastasis after surgical resection ofcolorectal cancer.
Methods: Patients fulfilling the eligibility criteria were assigned to receive either surgery plus1-week continuous infusion of 5-FU (study group) or surgery alone (observational group). Patients in the studygroup received portal vein chemotherapy, whereby 5-FU (1000 mg/d) and heparin (5000 IU/d) infusion wasinitiated from the day of surgery and lasted for 7 consecutive days. Liver metastasis was monitored during fiveyears follow-up postoperatively.
Results: Sixty four patients were recruited and assigned to the study group(12 with colon and 20 with rectal cancer) or the control group (10 with colon and 22 with rectal cancer). Livermetastasis rate was 12.5% in study and 25.0% in observational group, the difference being significant (P<0.01).
Conclusion: Portal vein chemotherapy could be an effective treatment in preventing liver metastasis after surgicalresection of colorectal cancer.