Gastroenterologie
a hepatologie

Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma, long-term outcomes and risk factors of tumour recurrence (single-centre experience)

Renáta Šenkeříková ^{Orcid.org  1}, Soňa Fraňková ^{Orcid.org  2}, Jan Šperl ^{Orcid.org  2}, Martin Oliverius³, Jiří Froněk ^{Orcid.org  4}, Eva Kieslichová, Helena Filipová ^{Orcid.org  5}, Dana Kautznerová ^{Orcid.org  6}, Eva Honsová ^{Orcid.org  7}, Pavel Trunečka⁸, Julius Špičák ^{Orcid.org  2}

+ Affiliation
¹ Klinika hepatogastroenterologie, IKEM, Praha
² Klinika hepatogastroenterologie, Transplantcentrum, IKEM, Praha
³ Klinika transplantační chirurgie IKEM Praha
⁴ Klinika transplantační chirurgie, Transplantcentrum, IKEM, Praha
⁵ Pracoviště radiodiagnostiky a intervenční radiologie, IKEM, Praha
⁶ Pracoviště radiodiagnostiky a intervenčníradiologie, IKEM, Praha
⁷ Pracoviště klinické a transplantační patologie, Transplacentrum, IKEM, Praha
⁸ Transplantcentrum, IKEM, Praha

Summary

Background and aims: Liver transplantation (OLT) is currently the treatment of choice for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incirrhotic liver, because it removes the tumour as well asthecirrhotic tissue with malignant potential. However, OLT improves survival especially in patients with a small tumour, who have a low risk of tumour recurrence after OLT. The aim of our study was to retrospectively analyse survival of patients who underwent liver transplantation for HCC in our centre and to identify the risk factors of tumour recurrence after OLT. Patient characteristics: Eighty-one adult patients who underwent liver transplantation in our centre for HCC (HCC group) were enrolled into the study. They all complied with the extended indication criteria (HCC < 6.5 cm) and 61/81 also met the Milan criteria (HCC < 5 cm). The control group consisted of 606 patients transplanted for end-stage liver disease without evidence of tumour (Ci group) within the same period. Results: 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival was worse in HCC patients compared with the Ci group (HCC 77%, 70% and 66% vs Ci 93%, 90% and 87%, p < 0.001). Long-term survival is comparable with foreign transplant centres in the Metroticket Group (5-year survival 71.2% and 10-year survival 58.4% if the extended criteria are met). 13/81 (16%) patients experienced HCC recurrence, and the median time to recurrence after OLT was 182 days (101-2322). Conclusions: Higher AFP value before OLT, the largest node size and proved angioinvasion represented the independent predictive factors of tumour recurrence. To achieve even better results, regular screening of risk groups of cirrhotic patients resulting in detection of small tumours and their early referral to OLT is crucial.

Keywords

cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, survival, liver transplantation

To read this article in full, please register for free on this website.

Benefits for subscribers

Benefits for logged users