Tom Reeve Academic Surgical Clinic · St Leonards
Research · Liver metastases
Colorectal cancer with liver metastases is treatable for many Australians when surgery is combined with modern chemotherapy. Thomas J. Hugh's early work with Professor Poston shaped liver metastases treatment pathways still used in Sydney multidisciplinary clinics.
This page explains liver metastases in plain language, alongside peer-reviewed work by Thomas J. Hugh and colleagues.
Plain-language patient guide→Hugh and Poston's 1997 ANZ Journal of Surgery review on aetiology and management of hepatic metastases remains a foundation for understanding CRLM biology.
Tom Hugh continues to operate within teams that sequence chemotherapy and colorectal liver metastases surgery.
Hugh, Kinsella, and Poston (1997) Surgical Oncology two-part series outlined investigation and surgical versus non-surgical options for colorectal liver metastases.
Lane and Hugh (2018) explored locoregional drug delivery research, reflecting ongoing innovation beyond standard chemotherapy.
| Modality | Role in CRLM |
|---|---|
| Chemotherapy / biologics | Shrink tumours, control micrometastatic disease |
| Liver resection | Best chance of long-term survival when complete |
| Ablation / embolization | Small lesions or adjunct when resection incomplete |
| MDT review | Integrates bowel, liver, and oncology timing |
Brown, Samra, and Hugh (2019) used propensity scoring to compare anatomical versus non-anatomical liver resection for metastases, informing technical debates.
Thomas J. Hugh discusses realistic goals of care at first St Leonards appointment.
That finding reassures patients that a difficult hospital course can still align with good oncologic results when disease is controlled.
Tom Hugh integrates these biomarkers into discussions with medical oncologists before resection.
Brown KM, Albania MF, Samra JS, Kelly PJ, Hugh TJ
BJS Open, 2019 · View publication
Lane RJ, Khin NY, Pavlakis N, Hugh TJ, Clarke SJ, Magnussen J, Rogan C, Flekser RL
Future Oncol, 2018 · View publication
Using patient-derived xenograft models of colorectal liver metastases to predict chemosensitivity
Brown KM, Xue A, Julovi S, Gill AJ, Pavlakis N, Samra JS, Smith RC, Hugh TJ
J Surg Res, 2018 · View publication
Huang YT, Park J, Chong S, Hugh TJ, Ng WL, Lin M
Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2017 · View publication
Hadden WJ, de Reuver PR, Brown K, Mittal A, Samra JS, Hugh TJ
HPB (Oxford), 2016 · View publication
Patient-derived xenograft models of colorectal cancer in pre-clinical research: a systematic review
Brown KM, Xue A, Mittal A, Samra JS, Smith R, Hugh TJ
Oncotarget, 2016 · View publication
Complications following liver resection for colorectal metastases do not impact on long term outcome
Pang TC, Spiro C, Ramacciotti T, Choi J, Drummond M, Sweeney E, Samra JS, Hugh TJ
HPB (Oxford), 2015 · View publication
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α staining is associated with worse outcome in colorectal liver metastases
Pang T, Kaufman A, Choi J, Gill A, Drummond M, Hugh T, Samra J
Molecular and Clinical Oncology, 2015
The incidence of mismatch repair gene defects in colorectal liver metastases
Alvarado-Bachmann R, Smith A, Gundara JS, Kuo SC, Gill AJ, Samra JS, Hugh TJ
Mol Med Rep, 2014
Colorectal cancer patients with isolated liver metastases — a retrospective review and outcomes post-metastasectomy stratified by Kras status
Lumba S, Lin M, Xuan W, Tognela A, Lim S, Hugh T, Chua W, Ng W
Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2013
β-catenin expression in primary and metastatic colorectal cancer
Hugh TJ, Dillon SA, O'Dowd G, Getty B, Pignatelli M, Poston GJ, Kinsella AR
Int J Cancer, 1999
Aetiology and management of hepatic metastases
Hugh TJ, Poston GJ
ANZ J Surg, 1997
Management strategies for colorectal liver metastases — Part I: Pathophysiology and investigation of colorectal liver metastases
Hugh TJ, Kinsella AR, Poston GJ
Surgical Oncology, 1997
Management strategies for colorectal liver metastases — Part II: Surgical and non-surgical options for colorectal liver metastases
Hugh TJ, Kinsella AR, Poston GJ
Surgical Oncology, 1997
Outcomes across his practice are tracked through the DASO audit unit. That combination of published research and prospective audit is intended to keep advice grounded in measured results, not marketing claims.
Read more about Tom Hugh→Complete resection (sometimes plus ablation) offers the best chance of long-term survival. It is not guaranteed, but many patients live years disease-free.
Sometimes both are staged in one plan; other times chemotherapy comes first or bowel and liver operations are separated. MDT decides sequence.
Repeat resection or ablation can be possible for limited recurrence. Hugh's research portfolio includes repeat liver surgery outcomes.