Evaluation of the Prognostic Role of Liver Metastases on Patient Outcomes: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Cancer J. 2023 Sep-Oct;29(5):279-284. doi: 10.1097/PPO.0000000000000683.

Abstract

The liver is a common site of metastasis for many primary malignancies, but the quantitative impact on survival is unknown. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of 83 studies (604,853 patients) assessing the overall hazard associated with liver metastases by primary tumor type and treatment regimen. The pooled overall survival hazard ratio (HR) for all included studies was 1.77 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.62-1.93). Patients with breast cancer primaries fared the worst (HR, 2.37; 95% CI, 1.64-3.44), as did patients treated with immunotherapies (HR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.42-2.42). Liver metastases negatively impact survival, necessitating new approaches to disease management.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Systematic Review
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms* / secondary
  • Prognosis
  • Proportional Hazards Models