Resection of liver metastases from colorectal cancer--how can we improve results?

Resection of liver metastases due to large bowel cancer has become an important part of treatment. In recent years, there have been advances in technique and the selection of patients has been extended. Surgery is the only modality which currently offers the possibility of long-term survival. Resection combined with chemotherapy may offer improved survival, but more data are needed. Chemotherapy may cause regression of metastases to permit resection where initially they were considered unresectable. The data available from such studies are presented.