Published online May 24, 2020. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v11.i5.294
Peer-review started: December 31, 2019
First decision: March 15, 2020
Revised: May 9, 2020
Accepted: May 14, 2020
Article in press: May 14, 2020
Published online: May 24, 2020
Processing time: 144 Days and 20.1 Hours
Core tip: Primary tumour location is associated with differing oncological outcomes and patterns of hepatic metastatic behaviour in patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases. Specifically, this systematic review indicates that there is improved overall survival in patients undergoing treatment for colorectal cancer liver metastases with left-sided colorectal cancer (CRC), compared with right-sided CRC. These findings suggest that primary tumour location may have a role in developing more individually-tailored staging, treatment and surveillance strategies for patients with CRC in the future. Current chemotherapeutic regimens may require additional modification(s) to take into account the fundamental molecular and embryological differences that underpin primary tumour sidedness.