Impact of perineural invasion on the outcome of patients with synchronous colorectal liver metastases treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery

PURPOSE: To analyze the prognostic value of variables of the primary tumor in patients with synchronous liver metastases in colorectal cancer (CLRMs) treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery. METHODS/PATIENTS: From a prospective database, we retrospectively identified all patients with synchronous CLRMs who were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and liver resection. Using univariate and multivariate analyses, we identified the variables associated with tumor recurrence. Overall survival and disease-free survival were calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method with differences determined by the Cox multiple hazards model. Results were compared using the log-rank test. RESULTS: Ninety-eight patients with synchronous CLRMs were identified. With a median follow-up of 39.8 months, overall survival and disease-free survival at 5 and 10 years were 53%, 41.7%, 29% and 29%, respectively. Univariate analysis identified three variables associated with tumor recurrence: location in the colon (p = 0.025), lymphovascular invasion (p = 0.011) and perineural invasion (p = 0.005). Multivariate analysis identified two variables associated with worse overall survival: perineural invasion (HR 2.36, 95% CI 1.162–4.818, p = 0.018) and performing frontline colectomy (HR 3.286, 95% CI 1.256–8.597, p = 0.015). Perineural invasion remained as the only variable associated with lower disease-free survival (HR 1.867, 95% CI 1.013–3.441, p = 0.045). Overall survival at 5 and 10 years in patients with and without perineural invasion was 68.2%, 54.4% and 29.9% and 21.3%, respectively (HR 5.920, 95% CI 2.241–15.630, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Perineural invasion in the primary tumor is the variable with most impact on survival in patients with synchronous CLRMs treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery.