Hepatectomy Followed by Adjuvant Chemotherapy with 3‐Month Capecitabine Plus Oxaliplatin for Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases

LESSONS LEARNED: Three‐month adjuvant capecitabine plus oxaliplatin in combination (CAPOX) appeared to reduce recurrence, with mild toxicity in postcurative resection of colorectal cancer liver metastases (CLM). Recurrence in patients who underwent the 3‐month adjuvant CAPOX after resection of CLM was most commonly at extrahepatic sites. BACKGROUND: The role of neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy in the management of initially resectable colorectal cancer liver metastases (CLM) is still unclear. We evaluated the feasibility of 3‐month adjuvant treatment with capecitabine plus oxaliplatin in combination (CAPOX) for postcurative resection of CLM. METHODS: Patients received one cycle of capecitabine followed by four cycles of CAPOX as adjuvant chemotherapy after curative resection of CLM. Oral capecitabine was given as 1,000 mg/m(2) twice daily for 2 weeks in a 3‐week cycle, and CAPOX consisted of oral capecitabine plus oxaliplatin 130 mg/m(2) on day 1 in a 3‐week cycle. Primary endpoint was the completion rate of adjuvant chemotherapy. Secondary endpoints included recurrence‐free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS), dose intensity, and safety. RESULTS: Twenty‐eight patients were enrolled. Median age was 69.5 years, 54% of patients had synchronous metastases, and 29% were bilobar. Mean number of lesions resected was two, and mean size of the largest lesion was 31 mm. Among patients, 20 (71.4%; 95% confidence interval, 53.6%–89.3%) completed the protocol treatment and met its primary endpoint. The most common grade 3 or higher toxicity was neutropenia (29%). Five‐year recurrence‐free survival and overall survival were 65.2% and 87.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Three‐month adjuvant treatment with CAPOX is tolerable and might be a promising strategy for postcurative resection of CLM.