To investigate the curative effect of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) combined with chemotherapy for liver metastases from breast cancer.

Clinical data of 6 patients with liver metastases from breast cancer in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yet-sen University from January 2009 to December 2012 were analyzed retrospectively. The informed consents of all patients were obtained and the ethical committee approval was received. All the patients were female with the age ranging from 35 to 65 years old and a median of 54 years old. The liver metastases were all single metastases. The tumor diameter was 1.5 to 4.5 cm with a median of 2.5 cm. The patients received modified radical mastectomy 6 to 30 months before treatments and all received chemotherapy after the operations. The liver metastases were confirmed by ultrasound, CT and MRI. RFA was performed percutaneously under the guidance of ultrasound on the patients. After 1 week of RFA treatment, individual chemotherapy was given to the patients according to their previous chemotherapy regimen and the situation of liver metastases. The focus necrosis was checked by contrast enhanced CT or MRI examination 1 month after the RFA treatment. The curative effect of RFA was observed based on the imaging examinations. According to the patients' survival and tumor recurrence, survival analysis was conducted by drawing Kaplan-Meier curves.

After the first RFA on 6 cases, the liver metastases in 5 cases were observed with total necrosis, and 1 case with partial necrosis. The one with partial necrosis then received the second RFA. Local recurrence of the tumor was observed in 1 case during the follow-up. All the patients survived with a median tumor-free survival time of 18 months.

The combination theraphy of RFA and chemotherapy has a definite effect for liver metastases from breast cancer and is a safe, effective comprehensive therapeutic regimen.