Colorectal cancer

Management of synchronous primary colorectal cancer with unresectable metastatic disease

From Cancer Guidelines Wiki


Guideline contents > Management synchronous primary in metastatic CRC

  Cite this page

Dr Louise Nott BMedSci MBBS.Hons FRACP, Melissa Chow, Chetcuti, A, Dr Muhammad Khattak, Professor Timothy Price MBBS, DHlthSc (Medicine), FRACP, Dr Amanda Townsend, Cancer Council Australia Colorectal Cancer Guidelines Working Party. Clinical question:Management synchronous primary in metastatic CRC . In: Clinical practice guidelines for the prevention, early detection and management of colorectal cancer. Sydney: Cancer Council Australia. [Version URL: https://wiki.cancer.org.au/australiawiki/index.php?oldid=173110, cited 2023 Jun 1]. Available from: https://wiki.cancer.org.au/australia/Guidelines:Colorectal_cancer.


Last modified:
7 November 2017 23:42:35

Back to top

Background[edit source]

At the time of diagnosis, up to 25% of patients with colorectal cancer present with synchronous metastases.2 Most patients (70%–90%) with metastatic disease are unsuitable for curative surgical treatment, and early chemotherapy in association with targeted therapies has been demonstrated to provide optimal palliation in terms of survival and quality of life or tumour down-staging.[1][2]

Initial management of the primary site in patients who present with metastatic disease is controversial and there does not appear to be a consensus amongst international guidelines. The choice and sequence of treatment is guided by the presence and absence of symptoms from the primary tumour, whether or not the metastases are potentially resectable, patient co-morbidity, performance status and life expectancy.

With the exception of obstructing perforated or bleeding primary tumours, where surgical intervention is often indicated, it is still controversial whether either primary tumour resection followed by chemotherapy or immediate chemotherapy without primary tumour resection is the best therapeutic option.

Overview of evidence (non-systematic literature review)[edit source]

No systematic reviews were undertaken for this topic. Practice points were based on selected published literature. Please see Guidelines Development for more information.

Impact of palliative resection of primary on survival in patients with non-resectable metastatic colorectal cancer[edit source]

Several studies have assessed the impact of primary tumour resection for colorectal cancer with non-resectable metastases.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] Published studies were predominantly non-randomised, mostly retrospective and reported by single institutions. The major draw backs in these studies were that surgery was offered to the patients with the best performance status and the preferred treatment for the other patients was systemic therapy alone.[22] In addition, those patients with a heavy burden of metastatic disease were more likely to be offered systemic therapy rather than surgery.[22] Another limitation is that the majority of published studies have included colon and rectal cancers together; the issues can be very different for these two localisations. Surgery is often more complex for rectal cancer patients and symptoms relating to local progression of rectal tumours can be associated with significant morbidity (e.g. rectal pain) which can be difficult to manage.[22]

A meta-analysis of 21 studies (including 44,226 patients) evaluating the effect of primary tumour resection in patients with non-resectable metastatic colorectal cancer concluded that there was a significantly lower mortality risk compared with no resection: odds ratio (OR) 0.28; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.165 to 0.474. This translated into a difference in mean survival of approximately 6.4 months in favour of resection.[23] The authors acknowledged significant cross-study heterogeneity and selection biases in the majority of studies, with healthier patients and those felt to have better prognosis more likely to undergo resection.[23]

Importantly, none of the above series reporting a survival benefit for resection of the primary site has assessed the contribution of systemic chemotherapy to outcomes, or controlled for all possible variables that could have favourably affected outcomes in the resected patients.

Results of meta-analyses that have taken the effect of chemotherapy into account have been conflicting. A meta-analysis of data from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of first-line chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer (which included patients with non-resectable disease) found that primary tumour resection was independently associated with better overall survival in multivariate analysis: hazard ratio (HR) for death 0.63 (95% CI 0.53 to 0.75).[24]

To the contrary, a Cochrane review of seven non-randomised studies, totalling 1086 patients, concluded that resection of the primary cancer in asymptomatic patients with non-resectable metastatic colorectal cancer managed with chemo/radiotherapy was not associated with consistent improvement in overall survival and did not significantly reduce the risk of primary site complications (i.e. bleeding, perforation, obstruction).[25] Despite conflicting evidence, retrospective data show that approximately 50% of all patients with mCRC undergo resection of the primary tumour.[26][27] This is in keeping with Australian data indicating that the majority of palliative metastatic colorectal cancer patients in clinical practice have their colorectal primary tumours resected. A retrospective analysis of the prospective Treatment of Recurrent and Advanced Colorectal Cancer registry reported on just over 1000 synchronous metastatic colorectal cancer patients between July 2009 and November 2015.[28] Of those patients, 70% were considered palliative at multidisciplinary team meeting.[28] And of those 45% had their colorectal primary tumours resected.[28] Reasons for primary resection in the palliative group were surgeon decision (45%) and obstruction (33%) but 4% achieved curative resection of metastases. In this study, performance status, metastasis resection (R0 versus R1 versus R2 versus no resection), resection of the colorectal primary and treatment intent determined at multidisciplinary team meeting were the most significant factors for progression-free and overall survival.[28] These data, in the setting of modern chemotherapy management, add to the literature supporting routine colorectal primary resection even when the metastases are not resectable.[28]

Two RCTs of primary site resection in patients who present with non-resectable metastatic disease are yet to be reported and may influence recommendations for this group of patients:

  • the Dutch Colorectal Cancer Group’s CAIRO4 study[29] comparing systemic therapy (fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy in combination with bevacizumab) only, with resection of the primary tumour followed by systemic therapy, in patients with synchronous unresectable metastases of colorectal cancer and few or no symptoms of the primary tumour
  • the German SYNCHRONOUS study[30] comparing resection of the primary tumour before systemic chemotherapy, with no resection, in patients with synchronous unresectable metastases and no symptoms of the primary tumour.[30][31][32][33]

Morbidity of primary tumour resection in the setting of non-resectable mCRC[edit source]

For patients operated for their primary tumour as part of their initial management, the question of the potential extra-risk of postoperative morbidity associated with the resection of the tumor in metastatic setting should be considered. Several studies have suggested that resection of the primary tumor in the presence of metastatic disease is associated with high postoperative morbidity and mortality rates.[19][34] One study by Stelzner et al. reported that 15 out of 128 patients (11.7%) patients died within 30 days of surgery.[19] The results however, are likely biased as many of these patients were symptomatic and underwent emergency surgery. The same series found a 27.8% mortality rate in patients who underwent emergency surgery compared to a 7.3% mortality rate for elective procedures (p = 0.002). These mortality rates were higher than those found in a recently-published meta-analysis in which collectively, perioperative mortality was 1.7% (95% CI 0.7%-3.9%).[35] Most patients within this meta-analysis were asymptomatic and were managed electively likely explaining the lower reported mortality. In this meta-analysis, postoperative morbidity occurred in 68 of 299 patients for a pool proportion of 23% (95% CI 18.5-21.8). The most frequent complication was wound infection which could be managed conservatively; however, in some instances, a major complication arose requiring additional surgery. Anastomotic leakage, occurring in 1.7% of patients (5/299 patients) can lead to sepsis, significantly prolongs hospital stays and delays or even precludes the administration of chemotherapy.[35]

The type of surgery performed may be important as suggested by another systematic review and meta-analysis that identified five studies comparing open palliative colectomies with laparoscopic palliative colectomies in this setting and found laparoscopic procedures were associated with reduced post-operative complications, blood loss and length of hospital stays.[36]

Asymptomatic primary tumour[edit source]

The decision to surgically resect the primary in asymptomatic patients with non-resectable metastatic colorectal cancer is complex and requires careful consideration of the risk to benefit ratio for the patient. The impact of prophylactic surgery in this setting is uncertain.[18]

Leaving the primary tumour intact may not lead to unacceptable local complications (or significantly compromise survival).[37][38][39] There is a relatively low risk of bleeding (3%) or obstruction/perforation (7–14%) in patients who present with metastatic colorectal cancer and an intact asymptomatic primary managed at least initially without resection.[25][38][40]

Moreover, this group of patients appear to have higher rates of postoperative morbidity (20–30%) and perioperative mortality (1–6% percent)[10][17][18] which may lead to delays in the initiation of systemic therapy and detrimental effects on survival.

The prospective multicentre phase II NSABP C-10 trial[37] showed that patients with an asymptomatic primary colon tumour and non-resectable metastatic disease who received modFOLFOX with bevacizumab experienced an acceptable level of morbidity without upfront resection of the primary tumour. In this study, survival did not appear to be compromised by leaving the primary tumour intact and improvement in the primary site can be seen within the first two weeks of systemic therapy.

Systemic chemotherapy is generally the favoured treatment for patients presenting with synchronous metastatic colorectal cancer with asymptomatic primary. Although with modern chemotherapy regimens there may be a response within the primary tumour, this response may not be as robust as seen in the metastatic disease sites.[41] Thus, for patients with an intact primary site it is imperative to evaluate the primary site periodically. There are no guidelines for identifying non-resectable metastatic colorectal cancer patients with intact primaries who are more likely to suffer complications and require surgery during systemic therapy. Some have shown that even patients who appear to be at a high risk for subsequent complications based on tumour site or colonoscopy findings (i.e. nearly obstructing lesion or inability to advance the scope beyond the tumour) can avoid palliative surgery and obtain good control with systemic therapy.[42] The current National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines[43] recommend leaving the primary tumour intact and starting systemic therapy first in patients with non-resectable metastatic colorectal cancer and asymptomatic intact primaries.

Symptomatic primary tumour[edit source]

A small number of patients (approximately 6%) with mCRC present with acute complications related to their primary tumours such as obstruction, significant haemorrhage, and perforation, where an urgent intervention is usually indicated prior to starting systemic therapy.[25][44][45][46]

For bowel perforation, surgery should be considered to either remove the tumour when it is easily resectable (such as a right hemicolectomy for right-side colon lesions or sigmoid colectomy for sigmoid lesions), or to create a stoma (left colon) in cases requiring more technical surgery, such as low rectal resections.[47]

Nonsurgical methods of palliation can be considered for patients not suitable for surgical procedures. Successful local palliation of an obstructing or nearly obstructing tumour may be achieved through endoscopic or radiographic placement of self-expanding metal stent (SEMS). Among the advantages of SEMS over palliative surgery are a faster recovery time (permitting earlier administration of chemotherapy) and a shorter hospital stay If the tumour is not completely obstructing, electrofulguration or laser ablation (using an Nd:YAG or argon ion [argon plasma coagulation or APC] laser) can be attempted to maintain the patency of the lumen.[48] Radiation therapy directed at the primary tumour is another alternative to control bleeding.

Back to top

Practice points[edit source]

Practice pointQuestion mark transparent.png

Routine palliative resection of asymptomatic synchronous primary lesion in patients with unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer remains controversial and there are no prospective randomised studies to guide treatment. Recruitment into such trials has been difficult.


Practice pointQuestion mark transparent.png

All patients with an asymptomatic primary and unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer should be discussed in a multi-disciplinary team meeting and the risks and benefits of a palliative resection for an individual patient be carefully discussed bearing in mind the volume of metastatic disease, degree of stenosis/risk of impending obstruction, comorbidities and patient preferences.


Practice pointQuestion mark transparent.png

Patients with an asymptomatic primary and good medium to long term disease control after initial systemic therapy could be re-evaluated for potential resection of both the primary tumour and metastases in the absence of widespread disease progression.


Practice pointQuestion mark transparent.png

For patients with a symptomatic primary tumour (obstruction, bleeding or perforation) and synchronous metastatic disease, resection of the primary tumour should be considered before initiation of systemic therapy. For candidates not suitable for primary tumour resection other palliative options to control symptoms including surgical bypass, radiotherapy, stents, laser ablation in addition to systemic treatment should be considered.


Practice pointQuestion mark transparent.png

For patients with unresectable metastatic rectal cancer with symptomatic primary tumour, irradiation (+/- chemotherapy) of the primary tumour should be considered after multidisciplinary discussion in order to obtain optimal symptom control and reduce patient morbidity.

Next section: discussion
Back to top

References[edit source]

  1. ↑ Golfinopoulos V, Salanti G, Pavlidis N, Ioannidis JP. Survival and disease-progression benefits with treatment regimens for advanced colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis. Lancet Oncol 2007 Oct;8(10):898-911 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17888735.
  2. ↑ Tol J, Koopman M, Cats A, Rodenburg CJ, Creemers GJ, Schrama JG, et al. Chemotherapy, bevacizumab, and cetuximab in metastatic colorectal cancer. N Engl J Med 2009 Feb 5;360(6):563-72 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19196673.
  3. ↑ Aslam MI, Kelkar A, Sharpe D, Jameson JS. Ten years experience of managing the primary tumours in patients with stage IV colorectal cancers. Int J Surg 2010;8(4):305-13 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20380899.
  4. ↑ Bajwa A, Blunt N, Vyas S, Suliman I, Bridgewater J, Hochhauser D, et al. Primary tumour resection and survival in the palliative management of metastatic colorectal cancer. Eur J Surg Oncol 2009 Feb;35(2):164-7 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18644695.
  5. ↑ Benoist S, Pautrat K, Mitry E, Rougier P, Penna C, Nordlinger B. Treatment strategy for patients with colorectal cancer and synchronous irresectable liver metastases. Br J Surg 2005 Sep;92(9):1155-60 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16035135.
  6. ↑ Chan TW, Brown C, Ho CC, Gill S. Primary tumor resection in patients presenting with metastatic colorectal cancer: analysis of a provincial population-based cohort. Am J Clin Oncol 2010 Feb;33(1):52-5 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19704367.
  7. ↑ Costi R, Mazzeo A, Di Mauro D, Veronesi L, Sansebastiano G, Violi V, et al. Palliative resection of colorectal cancer: does it prolong survival? Ann Surg Oncol 2007 Sep;14(9):2567-76 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17541693.
  8. ↑ Evans MD, Escofet X, Karandikar SS, Stamatakis JD. Outcomes of resection and non-resection strategies in management of patients with advanced colorectal cancer. World J Surg Oncol 2009 Mar 10;7:28 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19284542.
  9. ↑ Frago R, Kreisler E, Biondo S, Salazar R, Dominguez J, Escalante E. Outcomes in the management of obstructive unresectable stage IV colorectal cancer. Eur J Surg Oncol 2010 Dec;36(12):1187-94 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20864304.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Galizia G, Lieto E, Orditura M, Castellano P, Imperatore V, Pinto M, et al. First-line chemotherapy vs bowel tumor resection plus chemotherapy for patients with unresectable synchronous colorectal hepatic metastases. Arch Surg 2008 Apr;143(4):352-8; discussion 358 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18427022.
  11. ↑ Karoui M, Roudot-Thoraval F, Mesli F, Mitry E, Aparicio T, Des Guetz G, et al. Primary colectomy in patients with stage IV colon cancer and unresectable distant metastases improves overall survival: results of a multicentric study. Dis Colon Rectum 2011 Aug;54(8):930-8 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21730780.
  12. ↑ Kaufman MS, Radhakrishnan N, Roy R, Gecelter G, Tsang J, Thomas A, et al. Influence of palliative surgical resection on overall survival in patients with advanced colorectal cancer: a retrospective single institutional study. Colorectal Dis 2008 Jun;10(5):498-502 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17949445.
  13. ↑ Konyalian VR, Rosing DK, Haukoos JS, Dixon MR, Sinow R, Bhaheetharan S, et al. The role of primary tumour resection in patients with stage IV colorectal cancer. Colorectal Dis 2007 Jun;9(5):430-7 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17504340.
  14. ↑ Law WL, Chan WF, Lee YM, Chu KW. Non-curative surgery for colorectal cancer: critical appraisal of outcomes. Int J Colorectal Dis 2004 May;19(3):197-202 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14618348.
  15. ↑ Michel P, Roque I, Di Fiore F, Langlois S, Scotte M, Tenière P, et al. Colorectal cancer with non-resectable synchronous metastases: should the primary tumor be resected? Gastroenterol Clin Biol 2004 May;28(5):434-7 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15243315.
  16. ↑ Mik, M Dziki, L Galbfach, P Trzcinski, R Sygut, A Dziki, A. Resection of the primary tumour or other palliative procedures in incurable stage IV colorectal cancer patients? Colorectal Disease 2009 Apr 10;DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-1318.2009.01860.x.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Ruo L, Gougoutas C, Paty PB, Guillem JG, Cohen AM, Wong WD. Elective bowel resection for incurable stage IV colorectal cancer: prognostic variables for asymptomatic patients. J Am Coll Surg 2003 May;196(5):722-8 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12742204.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Scoggins CR, Meszoely IM, Blanke CD, Beauchamp RD, Leach SD. Nonoperative management of primary colorectal cancer in patients with stage IV disease. Ann Surg Oncol 1999 Oct;6(7):651-7 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10560850.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Stelzner, S Hellmich, G Koch, R Ludwig, K. Factors predicting survival in stage IV colorectal carcinoma patients after palliative treatment: A multivariate analysis. Journal of Surgical Oncology 2005 Mar 15;89(4), p. 211-217 DOI: 10.1002/jso.20196.
  20. ↑ Tebbutt NC, Norman AR, Cunningham D, Hill ME, Tait D, Oates J, et al. Intestinal complications after chemotherapy for patients with unresected primary colorectal cancer and synchronous metastases. Gut 2003 Apr;52(4):568-73 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12631671.
  21. ↑ Yun HR, Lee WY, Lee WS, Cho YB, Yun SH, Chun HK. The prognostic factors of stage IV colorectal cancer and assessment of proper treatment according to the patient's status. Int J Colorectal Dis 2007 Nov;22(11):1301-10 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17486358.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Cotte E, Villeneuve L, Passot G, Boschetti G, Bin-Dorel S, Francois Y, et al. GRECCAR 8: impact on survival of the primary tumor resection in rectal cancer with unresectable synchronous metastasis: a randomized multicentre study. BMC Cancer 2015 Feb 12;15:47 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25849254.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Clancy C, Burke JP, Barry M, Kalady MF, Calvin Coffey J. A meta-analysis to determine the effect of primary tumor resection for stage IV colorectal cancer with unresectable metastases on patient survival. Ann Surg Oncol 2014 Nov;21(12):3900-8 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24849523.
  24. ↑ Faron M, Pignon JP, Malka D, Bourredjem A, Douillard JY, Adenis A, et al. Is primary tumour resection associated with survival improvement in patients with colorectal cancer and unresectable synchronous metastases? A pooled analysis of individual data from four randomised trials. Eur J Cancer 2015 Jan;51(2):166-76 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25465185.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 Cirocchi R, Trastulli S, Abraha I, Vettoretto N, Boselli C, Montedori A, et al. Non-resection versus resection for an asymptomatic primary tumour in patients with unresectable stage IV colorectal cancer. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012 Aug 15;(8):CD008997 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22895981.
  26. ↑ Cook AD, Single R, McCahill LE. Surgical resection of primary tumors in patients who present with stage IV colorectal cancer: an analysis of surveillance, epidemiology, and end results data, 1988 to 2000. Ann Surg Oncol 2005 Aug;12(8):637-45 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15965730.
  27. ↑ van der Pool AE, Damhuis RA, Ijzermans JN, de Wilt JH, Eggermont AM, Kranse R, et al. Trends in incidence, treatment and survival of patients with stage IV colorectal cancer: a population-based series. Colorectal Dis 2012 Jan;14(1):56-61 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21176063.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 Malouf P, Gibbs P, Shapiro J, Sockler J, Bell S. Australian contemporary management of synchronous metastatic colorectal cancer. ANZ J Surg 2016 Apr 28 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27122066.
  29. ↑ 't Lam-Boer J, Mol L, Verhoef C, de Haan AF, Yilmaz M, Punt CJ, et al. The CAIRO4 study: the role of surgery of the primary tumour with few or absent symptoms in patients with synchronous unresectable metastases of colorectal cancer--a randomized phase III study of the Dutch Colorectal Cancer Group (DCCG). BMC Cancer 2014 Oct 2;14:741 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25277170.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Rahbari NN, Lordick F, Fink C, Bork U, Stange A, Jäger D, et al. Resection of the primary tumour versus no resection prior to systemic therapy in patients with colon cancer and synchronous unresectable metastases (UICC stage IV): SYNCHRONOUS--a randomised controlled multicentre trial (ISRCTN30964555). BMC Cancer 2012 Apr 5;12:142 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22480173.
  31. ↑ Mathus-Vliegen EM, Tytgat GN. Analysis of failures and complications of neodymium: YAG laser photocoagulation in gastrointestinal tract tumors. A retrospective survey of 18 years' experience. Endoscopy 1990 Jan;22(1):17-23 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1689658.
  32. ↑ Spinelli P, Mancini A, Dal Fante M. Endoscopic treatment of gastrointestinal tumors: indications and results of laser photocoagulation and photodynamic therapy. Semin Surg Oncol 1995 Jul;11(4):307-18 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7481368.
  33. ↑ Tan CC, Iftikhar SY, Allan A, Freeman JG. Local effects of colorectal cancer are well palliated by endoscopic laser therapy. Eur J Surg Oncol 1995 Dec;21(6):648-52 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8631414.
  34. ↑ Venderbosch S, de Wilt JH, Teerenstra S, Loosveld OJ, van Bochove A, Sinnige HA, et al. Prognostic value of resection of primary tumor in patients with stage IV colorectal cancer: retrospective analysis of two randomized studies and a review of the literature. Ann Surg Oncol 2011 Nov;18(12):3252-60 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21822557.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 Stillwell AP, Buettner PG, Ho YH. Meta-analysis of survival of patients with stage IV colorectal cancer managed with surgical resection versus chemotherapy alone. World J Surg 2010 Apr;34(4):797-807 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20054541.
  36. ↑ Yang TX, Billah B, Morris DL, Chua TC. Palliative resection of the primary tumour in patients with Stage IV colorectal cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis of the early outcome after laparoscopic and open colectomy. Colorectal Dis 2013 Aug;15(8):e407-19 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23895669.
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 McCahill LE, Yothers G, Sharif S, Petrelli NJ, Lai LL, Bechar N, et al. Primary mFOLFOX6 plus bevacizumab without resection of the primary tumor for patients presenting with surgically unresectable metastatic colon cancer and an intact asymptomatic colon cancer: definitive analysis of NSABP trial C-10. J Clin Oncol 2012 Sep 10;30(26):3223-8 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22869888.
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 Poultsides GA, Servais EL, Saltz LB, Patil S, Kemeny NE, Guillem JG, et al. Outcome of primary tumor in patients with synchronous stage IV colorectal cancer receiving combination chemotherapy without surgery as initial treatment. J Clin Oncol 2009 Jul 10;27(20):3379-84 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19487380.
  39. ↑ Tsang, W Ziogas, A Lin, B Seery, T Karnes, W Stamos, M Zell, J. Role of Primary Tumor Resection Among Chemotherapy-Treated Patients with Synchronous Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: A Survival Analysis. Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 2013 Dec 3;18(3), p. 592-598 DOI: 10.1007/s11605-013-2421-0.
  40. ↑ Nitzkorski, J Farma, J Watson, J Siripurapu, V Zhu, F Matteotti, R Sigurdson, E. Outcome and Natural History of Patients with Stage IV Colorectal Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy Without Primary Tumor Resection. Annals of Surgical Oncology 2011 Aug 23;19(2), p. 379-383 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-011-2028-1.
  41. ↑ Gervaz P, Rubbia-Brandt L, Andres A, Majno P, Roth A, Morel P, et al. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage IV colorectal cancer: a comparison of histological response in liver metastases, primary tumors, and regional lymph nodes. Ann Surg Oncol 2010 Oct;17(10):2714-9 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20405223.
  42. ↑ Ballian N, Mahvi DM, Kennedy GD. Colonoscopic findings and tumor site do not predict bowel obstruction during medical treatment of stage IV colorectal cancer. Oncologist 2009 Jun;14(6):580-5 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19465681.
  43. ↑ National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Guidelines: Colon Cancer. National Comprehensive Cancer Network; 2016.
  44. ↑ Karoui M, Charachon A, Delbaldo C, Loriau J, Laurent A, Sobhani I, et al. Stents for palliation of obstructive metastatic colon cancer: impact on management and chemotherapy administration. Arch Surg 2007 Jul;142(7):619-23; discussion 623 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17638798.
  45. ↑ Tilney HS, Lovegrove RE, Purkayastha S, Sains PS, Weston-Petrides GK, Darzi AW, et al. Comparison of colonic stenting and open surgery for malignant large bowel obstruction. Surg Endosc 2007 Feb;21(2):225-33 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17160651.
  46. ↑ Vemulapalli R, Lara LF, Sreenarasimhaiah J, Harford WV, Siddiqui AA. A comparison of palliative stenting or emergent surgery for obstructing incurable colon cancer. Dig Dis Sci 2010 Jun;55(6):1732-7 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19693667.
  47. ↑ Adam R, de Gramont A, Figueras J, Kokudo N, Kunstlinger F, Loyer E, et al. Managing synchronous liver metastases from colorectal cancer: a multidisciplinary international consensus. Cancer Treat Rev 2015 Nov;41(9):729-41 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26417845.
  48. ↑ Kimmey MB. Endoscopic methods (other than stents) for palliation of rectal carcinoma. J Gastrointest Surg 2004 Mar;8(3):270-3 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15019921.

Back to top

Referring to the large bowel, comprising the colon and rectum.

Anti-cancer drugs that are injected into a vein or given by mouth. These drugs travel through the bloodstream to all parts of the body.

A recommendation on a subject that is outside the scope of the search strategy for the systematic review, based on expert opinion and formulated by a consensus process.

The main part of the large bowel, which absorbs water and electrolytes from undigested food (solid waste). Its four parts are the ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon and sigmoid colon.

The final section of the large bowel, ending at the anus.

Retrieved from "https://wiki.cancer.org.au/australiawiki/index.php?title=Clinical_question:Management_synchronous_primary_in_metastatic_CRC&oldid=173110"