Table 1 Patient eligibility criteria for SIRFLOX study

● Written informed consent provided.

● Evidence of ascites, cirrhosis, portal hypertension, main portal venous tumour involvement or main portal venous thrombosis.

● Aged ≥18 years with histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum (with or without the primary tumour in situ).

● Previous radiation therapy to the upper abdomen.

● Proven liver metastases.

● Non-malignant disease that renders patients unsuitable for the study treatment.

● WHO performance status of 0–1.

● Grade >1 peripheral neuropathy (NCI-CTCv3).

● Life expectancy of ≥3 months.

● Previous dose-limiting toxicity associated with adjuvant 5-FU or oxaliplatin chemotherapy.

● Patients with additional limited extra-hepatic metastases in the lung or lymph nodes (fewer than 5 nodules ≤1 cm diameter or a single nodule ≤1.7 cm diameter in the lung, and lymph node involvement in a single anatomical area <2 cm diameter) with the aim of these patients being <40% of the total number of patients recruited (but not being excluded even if they account for more than this proportion).

● Pregnancy or breast-feeding.

● Chemotherapy-naïve for mCRC, but previous adjuvant systemic chemotherapy for primary CRC or neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy to the pelvis more than 6 months before recruitment are permitted.

● Current or history of cancer other than adequately treated non-melanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix.

● Deemed suitable for either treatment regimen by the investigator.

● Allergy to non-ionic contrast agents.

● Adequate haematological, renal and hepatic function.

● Using an acceptable method of contraception.