Complex and innovative surgery and multimodal therapy can cure Stage 4 colorectal cancer
Chennai, October 21, 2021: The doctors from institute of liver diseases, transplant and surgery MGM Health care, a multi-specialty quaternary care hospital, Chennai , today announced the successful outcome of a co mp lex innovative multimodal procedure for multiple Synchronous Liver Metastases in a Stage 4 Colorectal Cancer patient. As per the hospital, probably it is the first time in the country that such complex stage 4 colorectal can cer was operated in a single sitting.
Mrs. Madhavi Muralidharan, a 60-year-old lady from Chennai was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer junction of co lon and rectum (large intestine) with multiple metastatic spread in liver (9 lesions in different areas occupying most of the liver). She also experienced weight loss and loss of appetite further hampering her physical move me nts. She tr avelled to different cancer hospitals and was informed that her disease is not curable and had only few months of life left. Her family was then advised to consult with Dr. Thiagarajan Srinivasan, Director, Instit ute of liver transpla nt and GI surgery, MGM healthcare, Chennai. Dr. Thiagarajan after a thorough analysis of the case informed the patient and her family that the cancer could be cured with an innovative treatment and she was asked to follow-up with Dr. Arun Ramanan, Medical oncologist for further treatment. The family after consultation with the doctors at MGM Healthcare gave their consent for the complex surgery.
Dr. Thiagarajan elaborated about the case and said, “We decided to go ahead with a single stage surgery for a complex synchronous liver metastasis and the rectal cancer of the patient. We recreated the surgery through 3D volumetry of the lesions and future liver remnant and 3D reconstruction was undertaken by an expert radi ologist team. A detailed 3D simulation of surgical removal all the nine liver lesions was virtually undertaken by the team before the surgery because excess removal of liver would have led to liver failure and inadequate re moval of lesions will cause recurrence of cancer and reduce the lifespan of the patient.
He further added, “The patient underwent a single stage removal of all nine lesions of liver and removal of can cer of colon and rectum with a diversion stoma. She
underwent post-operative biological tumor antibody ther apy and cancer chemotherapy for 6 months. We are happy to report that a rigorous follow-up of 8 months the patient is completely cured of the cancer with no detectable tumor in whole of her body which was confirmed by a PETCT scan. Mrs. Madhavi has also managed to gain back her weight and is now able to lead a normal and heal thy life after restoration of stoma. We salute the spirit of the patient and her family and thank them for placing their trust in our team. This story gives hope to a lot of patients with advanced colorectal cancer with liver me tastasis to live a long life.”
Dr. Thiagarajan added, “Colorectal cancer is the sixth commonest cancer in India, with 5 new cases occurring for every one lakh persons in a year with incidence rising by 20% every decade. Stage-1 colorectal cancer has 90% 5-year survival after multimodal therapy whereas stage-4 colorectal cancer has only 10% 5-year survival rate. The rising cases can be attributed to changing lifestyles that include consumption of calorie-rich and low fibre diet, excessive use of red meat and processed foods, and physical inactivity. Stage 4 Colorectal Cancers with only liver spread are unique in a way that they can be treated with a unique treatment which is a combination of com plex and innovative single or staged surgeries, chemotherapy, targeted biological tumor antibody therapy, radio therapy and in rare cases even liver transplantation. These efforts can result in increase of 5-year survival rate to 60 % which can be the best among all the cancers.