A Critical Review of the Role of Local Therapy for Oligometastatic Gastrointestinal Cancer

Purpose: The purpose of this critical review is to provide an overview of the role and outcomes associated with the use of local therapy for patients with oligometastatic gastrointestinal cancers. Methods and Materials: A review of clinical data was performed to describe outcomes associated with the use of systemic therapy and/or locoregional therapies for patients with oligometastatic gastrointestinal cancers including esophagus, gastric, liver, biliary, pancreas, colorectal, and anal canal. Results: This review describes outcomes associated with current first line systemic therapy and oligometastasis directed locoregional therapy for patients with gastrointestinal cancers. Available data suggest that for well-selected patients among each gastrointestinal disease subsite, the use of local therapy is associated with favorable disease control and possible survival benefit. Conclusions: These data emphasize the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration and consideration of radiation therapy for patients with oligometastatic gastrointestinal cancers to improve locoregional control and progression-free survival. Multiple trials are ongoing to determine whether metastasis-directed radiation therapy improves overall survival.