Pseudoadjuvant chemotherapy in resectable metastatic colorectal cancer
Cet article passe en revue les essais évaluant l'intérêt d'une chimiothérapie administrée avant et après une résection chirurgicale curative des métastases chez des patients atteints d'un cancer colorectal
Purpose of review : In this article, we focus on the potential benefits and risks of chemotherapy administration before (perioperative) or after (pseudoadjuvant) a curative resection of colorectal cancer (CRC) metastases. Recent findings : In the published evidence, there is a lack of survival benefit from peri or postoperative chemotherapy in the context of resectable metastatic CRC. However, high-risk patients may have a certain benefit when receiving a postoperative cytotoxic treatment. Apart from, according to the published data, the administration of a preoperative chemotherapy has been associated with serious parenchymal liver damage and an increase in the postoperative morbidity-mortality rate. Summary : Surgery is the only potentially curative treatment for metastatic CRC, but the risk of recurrence remains high. The current guidelines recommend the administration of either a perioperative or a pseudoadjuvant chemotherapy in this setting despite the absence of survival benefit. A better selection of patients who may require and gain an advantage from chemotherapy in the setting of resectable metastasis is highly needed. In this view, a prospective trial enrolling patients at high risk of recurrence is ongoing