Circulating Tumor Cells in mCRC for Liver Resection

Optimizing the Selection of Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer for Liver Resection - An Immuno-clinical Scoring System Incorporating Circulating Tumor Cell Enumeration and Clinical Factors

Resection of liver metastasis is potentially curative in patients with colorectal cancer bearing liver metastasis. However, early recurrence occurs in up to 30% in 3 months after liver resection. To optimize patient selection, the investigators propose to evaluate the the value of incorporating circulating tumor cells enumeration to clinical factors in a prospective study

This is a single-center prospective study to evaluate the predictive value of circulating tumor cells (CTC) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who are planned to have curative resection of liver metastasis. Blood will be taken from patients within 7 days before liver resection. CTC enumeration is done by a highly-sensitive microfluidic platform for which CTC can be subsequently enumerated with or without sequencing performed. Patients are then followed up regularly with contrast CT scan for recurrence. The primary study endpoint is to define the cutoff value of CTC count in patients with early relapse < 6months after liver resection. Seventy-seven patients will be recruited in 24 months.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age>=18 years
2. Signed informed consent
3. Histologically or cytologically confirmed colorectal adenocarcinoma
4. Both primary tumor and liver metastases are amenable to curative resection.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Presence of extrahepatic metastasis
2. History of other malignancies in the last 5 years
3. Patients unable to comply with the protocol