Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as a cytoreductive strategy for hepatic metastasis from breast cancer

INTRODUCTION. Patients with liver metastasis from breast cancer have a poor prognosis, although this may be improved by hepatectomy in a selected group with disease confined to the liver. We evaluate the effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as a cytoreductive strategy in the management of liver metastasis from primary breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Nineteen patients with hepatic metastasis from primary breast cancer underwent RFA of their liver lesions between April 1998 and August 2004. RESULTS The median age of the patients was 52 years (range, 32-69 years), 8 had disease confined to the liver, with 11 having stable extrahepatic disease in addition. Seven patients with disease confined to the liver at presentation are alive, as are 6 with extrahepatic disease, median follow-up after RFA was 15 months (range, 0-77 months). Survival at 30 months was 41.6%. In addition, 7 patients followed up for a median of 14 months (range, 2-29 months) remain alive and disease-free. RFA failed to control hepatic disease in 3 patients. RFA was not associated with any mortality or major morbidity. CONCLUSIONS Control of hepatic metastasis from breast cancer is possible using RFA and may lead to a survival benefit, particularly in those patients with disease confined to the liver.