The CLiFF Study: Change in Liver Function and Fat in Pre-operative Chemotherapy for Colorectal Liver Metastases

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Histologically verified adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum with radiological evidence of potentially resectable liver metastases, with no evidence of unresectable non-hepatic metastatic disease.
2. Pre-operative chemotherapy planned using Oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy regimen (including FOLFOX, XELOX and OXCAP regimens
3. Age greater than or equal to 18 years
4. WHO (World Health Organisation) performance status 0, 1 or 2
5. Adequate haematological and hepatic function defined by: Hb ³ 10g/dl, WBC ³ 3.0 x 109/L, ANC ³ 1.5 x 109/L, platelet count ³ 100,000/ mm3, total bilirubin \< 30 mmol/L, serum AST, ALT and alkaline phosphatase 5 x upper limit of normal
6. Renal function with creatinine clearance 60 mls/min (for full dose) or 30 ml/min for 50%-dose oxaliplatin
7. Patients must have given written informed consent
8. Any woman of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test prior to enrolment in to the study and must take adequate precautions to prevent pregnancy during treatment

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Presence of a medical or psychiatric condition that impairs their ability to give informed consent
2. Presence of any other serious uncontrolled medical conditions
3. Evidence of unresectable non-hepatic metastatic disease
4. Pregnant or lactating women. Adequate contraception must be used in fertile patients
5. Contra-indications to MR scanning