A novel prognostic nomogram for colorectal cancer liver metastasis patients with recurrence after hepatectomy

PURPOSE: We aimed to construct a nomogram to predict personalized post‐recurrence survival (PRS) among colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRLM) patients with post‐hepatectomy recurrence. METHODS: Colorectal cancer liver metastasis patients who received initial hepatectomy and had subsequent recurrence between 2001 and 2019 in Sun Yat‐sen University Cancer Center from China were included in the study. Patients were randomly assigned to a training cohort and a validation cohort on a ratio of 2:1. Univariable analysis was first employed to select potential predictive factors for PRS. Then, the multivariable Cox regression model was applied to recognize independent prognostic factors. According to the model, a nomogram to predict PRS was established. The nomogram's predictive capacity was further assessed utilizing concordance index (C‐index) values, calibration plots, and Kaplan–Meier curves. RESULTS: About 376 patients were finally enrolled, with a 3‐year PRS rate of 37.3% and a 5‐year PRS rate of 24.6%. The following five independent predictors for PRS were determined to construct the nomogram: the largest size of liver metastases at initial hepatectomy, relapse‐free survival, CEA level at recurrence, recurrent sites, and treatment for recurrence. The nomogram displayed fairly good discrimination and calibration. The C‐index value was 0.742 for the training cohort and 0.773 for the validation cohort. Patients were grouped into three risk groups very well by the nomogram, with 5‐year PRS rates of 45.2%, 23.3%, and 9.0%, respectively (p < 0.001) in the training cohort and 36.0%, 9.2%, and 4.6%, respectively (p < 0.001) in the validation cohort. CONCLUSION: A novel nomogram was built and validated to enable the prediction of personal PRS in CRLM patients with post‐hepatectomy recurrence. The nomogram may help physicians in decision making.