Advances in molecular biology and clinical practice of rectal liver metastases

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies, and liver metastases become the leading cause of high mortality of CRC patients. Difference in the anatomy between the colon and rectum resulting in different metastatic pattern and treatment methods between the colonic cancer and the rectal cancer. Recently, molecularbased subtyping is becoming the basis of prediction of tumor response and outcomes, replacing clinical and pathological stagings. In this review, clinical characteristics, advances of molecular detection, surgery and adjuvant therapy of rectal liver metastases are summarized.