Pretransplant trends in α‐fetoprotein levels as a predictor of recurrence after living donor liver transplantation for unresectable hepatoblastoma: A single‐institution experience

LT is a practical therapeutic alternative for unresectable hepatoblastoma; however, deciding when to perform LT is difficult. The aim of this study was to optimize the timing of LT for hepatoblastoma using pretransplant trends in AFP levels. Trends in pretransplant AFP levels and their influence on post‐transplant outcomes were retrospectively evaluated. All patients who underwent living donor LT for hepatoblastoma in our institution since 2002 were included. Variables analyzed included history of prior tumor resection, pretransplant AFP responses to chemotherapy, metastatic disease at diagnosis, and post‐transplant chemotherapy. Eight patients (seven boys and one girl; median age, 35 months; range, 15 months‐12 years) were transplanted. The overall post‐transplant recurrence‐free survival rate was 62.5% (5/8) with a mean follow‐up of 77 months. Patients with post‐transplant recurrence showed a 0.573 log increase in AFP levels after the last chemotherapy session before LT. This was significantly higher than the 0.279 log decrease observed in patients without post‐transplant recurrence (P = .024). Because the AFP response cannot be accurately predicted before each cycle of chemotherapy, it may be appropriate to perform LT when AFP levels do not decrease after the last cycle and before they are found to be elevated again.