Dr. El-Rayes on Locoregional Therapy Versus Resection in CRC

Bassel El-Rayes, MD, chief clinical research scientist, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, discusses considerations for locoregional therapy versus resection in patients with borderline and unresectable colorectal cancer that has metastasized to the liver.

The management of these patients requires a multidisciplinary team of experts. As such, these patients can benefit from being part of a tumor board discussion, El-Rayes says. There are a number of patient-related factors that can be used to determine the necessary approach. For example, the patient’s fitness, anatomy, and tumor biology can drive treatment decisions. If the disease is under adequate control systemically, physicians might be able to pursue local therapy.

Resection is still the gold standard, El-Rayes notes. However, in patients who are not fit enough or have extensive liver metastases, resection is not recommended.