Risk factors of survival after liver transplantation for HCC: a multivariate single-center analysis

Hoffmann K, Hinz U, Hillebrand N, Radeleff BA, Ganten TM, Schirmacher P, Schmidt J, Büchler MW, Schemmer P. Risk factors of survival after liver transplantation for HCC: a multivariate single‐center analysis.
Clin Transplant 2011: 25: E541–E551. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: Background: The selection criteria for liver transplantation (LT) in patients with hepatocellular cancer (HCC) are well defined. Increasing evidence suggests that the effectiveness of pre‐transplant bridging influences the individual course after LT significantly. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine its impact on tumor progression during waiting time and identify patient subgroups with favorable oncological long‐term outcome. Methods: Prospectively collected data of 78 consecutive patients undergoing LT for HCC between 2001 and 2007 were analyzed retrospectively. Survival rates were assessed using the Kaplan–Meier estimate. Clinicopathologic prognostic factors were identified by Cox regression analysis. Results: After 48.9 months of median follow‐up, the five‐yr overall survival rate is 57% with a five‐yr recurrence‐free survival rate of 74%. Progressive disease (PD) during bridging was developed in 32% of patients, and a trend toward impaired overall survival in patients with PD before LT was detected in multivariate analysis (p = 0.073). HCC ≥3 cm was associated with a three times increased risk of recurrent disease. Neither fulfillment of MILAN criteria nor bridging with transarterial chemoembolization had an impact on the outcome. Conclusion: PD during waiting time influences the oncological course after LT. However, even with an increasing organ shortage, further studies are warranted to define clear selection criteria based on the biological tumor behavior and allow a more personalized treatment.     

Living donor liver transplantation or resection for Child‐Pugh A hepatocellular carcinoma patients with multiple nodules meeting the Milan criteria

The optimum primary treatment strategy for early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with multiple nodules remains unclear. We aimed to compare the outcomes of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) with that of liver resection (LR) for early Child‐Pugh A HCC patients with multiple nodules meeting the Milan criteria. From January 2007 to July 2012, 67 of 375 patients with early HCC in our centre fulfilled the inclusion criteria (group LDLT, n = 34 versus group LR, n = 33). Patient and tumour characteristics, operative data, postoperative course and outcomes were analysed retrospectively. The postoperative mortality and rate of major complications were similar in both groups. The 5‐year overall survival (OS; 76.5% vs. 51.2%, P = 0.046) and recurrence‐free survival (RFS; 72.0% vs. 19.8%, P = 0.000) were better in group LDLT than that in group LR. The 5‐year OS and RFS were similar between patients with tumours located in the same lobe (TSL) and those in the different lobes (TDL) after LDLT, whereas the 5‐year RFS was better in patients with tumours in TSL (30.6% vs. 0%, P = 0.012) after LR. In conclusion, primary LDLT might be the optimum treatment for early HCC patients with multiple nodules meeting the Milan criteria.     

Feasibility of salvage liver transplantation for patients with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Recurrence is the most frequent cause of treatment failure after hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) resection. Salvage liver transplantation is an alternative treatment for recurrent HCC. The transplantability for patients with recurrent HCC has not been well studied. STUDY DESIGN: This study sought to determine how many patients with recurrent HCC are still candidates for liver transplantation, and to ascertain the possible time from HCC recurrence to the loss of transplantability. In an university hospital setting, 154 of the 252 patients receiving primary HCC resection, from January 1992 through December 1996, had recurrence and were analyzed. The mean follow-up time was 6 years. Among the 154 patients, 74 patients (group 1) were not eligible for liver transplantation according to the Milan criteria, while 80 patients were eligible (group 2). Demographic characteristics of both groups were compared and the curve of transplantability was calculated. RESULTS: When compared with group 1 patients, group 2 patients displayed more cirrhosis (p = 0.007), lower pTNM stage (p = 0.004), were older (p = 0.004), presented with smaller tumors (p < 0.001), and displayed a longer disease-free interval (p < 0.001). In group 1, only 47% (35/74) patients were eligible for liver transplantation at the time of index hepatectomy, in contrast to 84% (67/80) in the group 2 patients, p < 0.001. The median time from HCC recurrence to the time they were no longer transplantable was 38 months. The total time from the index HCC resection to the time of loss of transplantability was 83 months. CONCLUSION: In a cohort of patients after resection for their primary HCC, 33% patients had no recurrence and were not in need for liver transplantation in a mean follow-up of 72 months. About 52% of the patients with recurrent HCC still meet the criteria for liver transplantation. For patients with some certain characteristics, resection of the primary HCC may postpone the time of liver transplantation and prolong the time in which a suitable donor searched, while primary liver transplantation may be considered for those patients with factors of low transplantability after recurrence.     

介入联合仑伐替尼桥接治疗超米兰标准肝癌肝移植2例报道

目的 探究超米兰标准肝癌肝移植术前肝癌降期或桥接治疗的新方案,评价介入联合仑伐替尼治疗超米兰标准肝癌后实施肝移植的安全性和疗效。方法 回顾性分析我中心2例超米兰标准肝癌通过介入治疗联合仑伐替尼靶向治疗后成功接受肝移植患者的临床资料,术后规律复查血清学标记物、CT检查或肝脏彩超等评估患者的预后及肿瘤复发情况,评估该桥接方案的安全性和疗效。结果 第一例患者为肝癌伴门静脉右前支癌栓,为我国肝癌分期（CNLC分期）Ⅲa期,通过介入联合仑伐替尼治疗2个月,患者接受同种异体原位肝移植术,术后切口愈合良好,痊愈出院,术后病理提示肿瘤绝大部分坏死,仅周围见少许异形细胞团,规律随访16个月,未见肿瘤复发。第二例患者为肝癌伴肝中静脉侵犯,为CNLC分期Ⅲa期,通过介入联合仑伐替尼治疗1个月,肿瘤学评价为SD,患者接受同种异体原位肝移植术,术后切口愈合良好,痊愈出院,术后病理提示绝大部分组织已坏死,仅见少量肿瘤细胞呈条索样、腺样排列,规律随访14个月,未见肿瘤复发。两例患者目前肝功能正常,无其他并发症发生。结论 介入治疗联合仑伐替尼靶向治疗对晚期肝癌能较好的控制肿瘤进展,可作为超米兰标准肝癌肝移植前有效的桥接治疗手段,近期预后良好,对腹部切口的影响以及患者的中远期疗效需增加样本量并长期随访。     

A long‐term experience with expansion of Milan criteria for liver transplant recipients

The Milan criteria (MC) have historically determined eligibility for transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) Region 4 expanded the criteria for transplantation in HCC to include a single tumor ≤6 cm or up to 3 tumors with the largest diameter ≤5 cm and total additive diameter ≤9 cm (R4C). The aim of this study was to report the 10‐year outcomes of this expanded criteria compared to MC. Transplants performed for HCC in Region 4 between October 2007 and December 2016 were reviewed using the UNOS database. Recipients were categorized based on imaging findings at initial evaluation. A total of 2068 patients were included in the study. There was no significant difference in 10‐year patient survival between the groups (53% MC vs 48% R4C, P = .23). There was also no significant difference in recurrence‐free survival (54% MC vs 47% R4C, P = .15) or allograft survival (53% MC vs 48% R4C, P = .16). Finally, there was no significant difference in outcomes between the MC and R4C groups when stratifying patients by locoregional therapy. This study demonstrates promising data that the criteria for liver transplantation in HCC can be safely expanded to the R4C without compromising outcomes.     

Role of transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma before liver transplantation with special consideration of tumor necrosis

Abstract:  Several authors suggest that local ablative therapies, specifically transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), may control tumor progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients who are on the waiting list for liver transplantation (orthotopic liver transplantation, OLT). There is still no evidence if TACE followed by OLT is able to prevent recurrence of tumor, to prolong survival rate of the patients on the waiting list, or to improve the survival after OLT. We report 27 patients with HCC who underwent OLT. From these patients, 15 were pre-treated with TACE alone or in combination with percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) or laser-induced thermo therapy (LITT). Mean time on the waiting list was 214 d for treated patients and 133 d for untreated patients. Comparing pre-operative imaging and histopathological staging post-transplant, we found 13 patients with tumor progression out of which five were treated with TACE. In two of the TACE patients a decrease of lesions could be achieved. In a single patient, there was no evidence of any residual tumor. Only one patient displayed tumor progression prior to OLT despite undergoing TACE. Comparison of outcome in patients undergoing TACE or having no TACE was not statisitically significant (p = 0.5). In addition, our analysis showed that progression either in the total study population or in the TACE group alone is associated with a significant poorer outcome concerning overall survival (p = 0.02 and p = 0.02).     

肝切除和肝移植治疗符合米兰标准肝癌患者的疗效比较

目的 探讨肝切除术和肝移植治疗符合米兰标准肝癌患者的疗效.方法 回顾性分析2002年7月至2009年2月南京军区福州总医院行肝切除术和肝移植治疗121例符合米兰标准且合并肝硬化、肝功能为Child A级的原发性肝癌患者的临床资料,其中89例行肝癌切除术的患者作为肝切除术组;32例行肝移植的患者作为肝移植组.两组患者在年龄、性别、肝硬化病因、肿瘤最大直径、肿瘤数目、微血管侵犯、微小卫星灶、肿瘤分化程度方面比较,差异无统计学意义.对两组患者资料进行回顾性比较分析,Kaplan-Meier法计算生存时间,Log-rank分析生存曲线之间的差别,COX比例风险模型单因素、多因素分析影响预后的因素.结果 中位随访时间37个月,肝切除术组患者1、3、5年生存率分别为86％、63％、44％,肝移植组患者1、3、5年生存率分别为87％、70％、62％,两组总体生存率比较,差异无统计学意义(x2=1.092,P＞0.05);肝切除术组患者1、3、5年无瘤生存率分别为68％、44％、26％,肝移植组患者1、3、5年无瘤生存率分别为80％、65％、52％,两组总体无瘤生存率比较,差异有统计学意义(x2=4.712,P＜0.05).单因素分析结果显示:微血管侵犯、微小卫星灶与生存显著相关(Wald=9.625,7.340,P＜0.05);多因素分析结果显示:微血管侵犯是影响生存的独立危险因素(Wald=5.008,P＜0.05).结论 对于符合米兰标准的肝癌患者行肝切除术和肝移植比较总体生存率无明显差异,但肝移植术后患者无瘤生存率高于肝切除术;微血管侵犯是影响患者生存的独立危险因素.     

Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Beyond the Milan Criteria

Liver transplantation represents a cornerstone in the management of early‐stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Expansion beyond the Milan criteria for liver transplantation (1 lesion ≤ 5 cm, or 2 to 3 lesions each ≤ 3 cm) remains controversial. This review covers several key areas: (1) Recent developments and published data on expanded criteria for deceased donor and live‐donor liver transplantation, with emphasis on criteria that have been applied to preoperative imaging. (2) Independent testing of expanded criteria, where published data are largely limited to the proposed University of California, San Francisco criteria (1 lesion ≤ 6.5 cm, 2–3 lesions each ≤ 4.5 cm with total tumor diameter ≤ 8 cm). (3) Response to loco‐regional therapy and tumor downstaging. (4) The fundamental questions and answers in resolving the controversy over expanded criteria. The key issue pertains to whether acceptable outcome can be achieved on a broader scale beyond single center experience, which appears to support modest expansion beyond the Milan criteria. The foundation of the debate over expanded criteria may rest upon what the transplant community would consider to be the acceptable threshold for patient survival using expanded criteria, without causing significant harm to other transplant candidates without HCC.     

Comparative evaluation of expanded criteria for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma beyond the Milan criteria undergoing living-related donor liver transplantation

Shirabe K, Taketomi A, Morita K, Soejima Y, Uchiyama H, Kayashima H, Ninomiya M, Toshima T, Maehara Y. Comparative evaluation of expanded criteria for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma beyond the Milan criteria undergoing living‐related donor liver transplantation.
Clin Transplant 2011: 25: E491–E498. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: Objective: To clarify the predictive impact of expanded criteria for liver transplantation (LT) for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in 54 patients with HCC beyond the Milan criteria (MC) from a series of 109 consecutive living‐related donor liver transplantation (LDLT) recipients with HCC. Methods: Among 54 patients with HCC exceeding the MC, the predictive values for HCC recurrence within expanded criteria comprising the UCSF, Tokyo, Kyoto, Kyushu University (based on the tumor size and des‐gamma carboxy prothrombin level) and Up‐to‐seven criteria were compared using univariate and multivariate analyses. The histological characteristics of HCC were compared among these extended criteria. Results: All five criteria were significant predictors for recurrence‐free survival after univariate analyses. The Kyushu University criteria were the most powerful predictive criteria for HCC recurrence after multivariate analyses. The incidence of microvascular invasion and poorly differentiated HCC was significantly higher in patients with HCC exceeding the Kyushu University criteria than in those with HCC within the criteria. Conclusions: Compared with the other expanded criteria, the Kyushu University criteria may be useful to eliminate LT candidates at very high risk of HCC recurrence. The Kyushu University criteria were useful to evaluate LT candidates with HCC.     

索拉非尼在超米兰标准肝移植患者中的初步应用

目的 观察超米兰标准肝癌患者肝移植术后应用索拉非尼防治肿瘤复发的疗效.方法 将2008年3月至2010年6月在我院行肝移植手术的超米兰标准肝癌患者30例分为两组,每组各15例.实验组:口服索拉非尼400 mg每日2次.对照组:口服卡培他滨1500 mg每日2次,每个疗程服用14 d后休息2周.两组中术后18个月未复发者均停止用药.治疗过程中出现复发者则维持原剂量直至患者不宜再继续服药.出现严重不良反应者减量或停药.结果 实验组1年复发率为53.3％,对照组86.6％,两组比较差异有统计学意义(x2=3.968,P＜0.05).实验组1年生存率为93.3％,对照组46.6％,两组比较差异有统计学意义(x2=7.777,P＜0.05).实验组患者生存期7～36个月,平均(28.3±2.5)个月,对照组生存期5～41个月,平均(17.9±3.5)个月.实验组患者生存时间显著长于对照组(x2=5.702,P＜0.05).实验组及对照组的毒副反应大部分为Ⅰ、Ⅱ度,其中实验组发生腹泻、手足综合征的概率较对照组高.结论 超米兰标准的肝癌患者肝移植术后预防应用索拉非尼可以推迟肝癌的复发,延长患者的生存期,药物的毒副作用患者可以耐受.     

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目的分析超出加利福尼亚大学(UCSF)标准肝癌肝移植病人的生存情况,探讨影响预后的因素。方法对2006年1月至2010年12月间中山大学附属第一医院超过UCSF标准的肝癌肝移植病人的临床病历资料进行回顾性分析,应用Kaplan-Meier法计算病人存活率,应用Log-Rank检验进行单因素分析,应用Cox比例风险模型进行多因素分析,探讨临床和肿瘤病理因素与病人存活率之间的关系。结果单因素分析显示对存活率和(或)无瘤存活率有影响的有:肿瘤Edmondson分级、肿瘤TNM分期和肿瘤门静脉侵犯、术前AFP水平、术前淋巴结转移(P<0.05);Cox回归分析显示,肿瘤Edmondson分级Ⅲ-Ⅳ级和肿瘤门静脉侵犯(P<0.05)是与预后相关的独立因素。结论对于超出UCSF标准的肝癌病人,移植的总体效果是欠佳的,但也有部分病人可获得较长期的存活或带瘤生存,肿瘤Edmondson分级和门静脉侵犯是影响该组病人预后的重要因素。     

Cryosurgery after chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis

Most cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are not candidates for resection. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) may ablate a significant portion of the tumor but has a high rate of recurrence. Cryosurgery may permit successful ablation of hepatic tumors but can be complicated by post-operative hemorrhage and is also associated with a significant risk of recurrence. The combination of the two techniques might be beneficial. We evaluated in a prospective study the safety and efficacy of this combination in cirrhotic patients with unresectable HCC. Fifteen patients were included in this study. All but one patient underwent one or several sessions of TACE before cryosurgery. Cryoablation was successfully performed in each patient. The patient who did not undergo preoperative TACE required reoperation for hemorrhage. Another patient with Child-Pugh class B cirrhosis died postoperatively of hepatic and multiorgan failure. At a mean follow-up of 2.5 years, three patients had recurrence of disease, and 13 of 15 patients were alive with the longest survival time being 5 years. The actuarial survival rate at 5 years was 79%. Cryosurgery after TACE is feasible in cirrhotic livers with HCC and can increase the cure rate in large tumors. TACE may reduce the risk of hemorrhage after cryosurgery but can increase the risk of hepatic failure in patients with poor hepatic function. Presented at the Third Americas Congress of the American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association, Miami, Fla., Feb. 22–25, 2001.     

A single‐center retrospective analysis of liver transplantation on 255 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Wang Z‐X, Song S‐H, Teng F, Wang G‐H, Guo W‐Y, Shi X‐M, Ma J, Wu Y‐M, Ding G‐S, Fu Z‐R. A single‐center retrospective analysis of liver transplantation on 255 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
Clin Transplant 2010: 24: 752–757. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: Background: Liver transplantation (LT) was advocated as a salvage treatment of choice for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study was designed to assess the eligibility of LT criteria for patients with HCC and to analyze the factors influencing the recurrence of HCC following LT, aiming to further improve the efficacy of LT for patients with HCC. Methods: Clinical data of 255 patients with HCC who underwent LT between December 2001 and December 2007 at Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, China were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Among these cases, 75 patients were within the Milan criteria and 180 were beyond it; 110 patients were within the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) criteria, while 145 were beyond it. The difference in overall survival rates was not only significant between the patients within and beyond the Milan criteria but also between patients within and beyond the UCSF criteria. Tumor‐node‐metastasis (TNM) staging, portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT), and the pre‐operative alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) level were independent risk factors affecting the overall survival and post‐operative recurrence‐free survival rates of patients with HCC. Pathological staging and pre‐operative local treatment of HCC had no obvious correlation with the post‐operative recurrence‐free survival rate. Conclusion: LT is an effective treatment modality for HCC. The UCSF criteria did not show better effectiveness than the Milan criteria. TNM staging, PVTT, and the pre‐operative AFP level are closely related to the recurrence of HCC following LT.     

The challenges of liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma on cirrhosis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer mortality worldwide and liver transplantation (LT) has potentials to improve survival for patients with HCC. However, expansion of indications beyond Milan Criteria (MC) and use of bridging/downstaging procedures to convert intermediate‐advanced stages of HCC within MC limits are counterbalanced by graft shortage and increasing use of marginal donors, partially limited by the use of donor‐division protocols applied to the cadaveric and living‐donor settings. Several challenges in technique, indications, pre‐LT treatments and prioritization policies of patients on the waiting list have to be precised through prospective investigations that have to include individualization of prognosis, biological variables and pathology surrogates as stratification criteria. Also, liver resection has to be rejuvenated in the general algorithm of HCC treatment in the light of salvage transplantation strategies, while benefit of LT for HCC should be determined through newly designed composite scores that are able to capture both efficiency and equity endpoints. Innovative treatments such as radioembolization for HCC associated with portal vein thrombosis and molecular targeted compounds are likely to influence future strategies. Accepting this challenge has been part of the history of LT and will endure so also for the future.     

Tumor biology and pre‐transplant locoregional treatments determine outcomes in patients with T3 hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing liver transplantation

Liver transplantation is the optimal treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cirrhosis. This study was conducted to determine the impact of pre‐transplant locoregional therapy (LRT) on HCC and our institution's experience with expansion to United Network of Organ Sharing Region 4 T3 (R4T3) criteria. Two hundred and twenty‐five patients with HCC (176 meeting Milan and 49 meeting R4T3 criteria) underwent liver transplantation from 2002 to 2008. Compared with the Milan criteria, HCCs in R4T3 criteria displayed less favorable biological features such as higher median alpha‐fetoprotein level (21.9 vs. 8.5 ng/mL, p = 0.01), larger tumor size, larger tumor number, and higher incidence of microvascular invasion (22% vs. 5%, p = 0.002). As a result, patients meeting Milan criteria had better five‐yr survival (79% vs. 69%, p = 0.03) and a trend toward lower HCC recurrence rates (5% vs. 13%, p = 0.05). Pre‐transplant LRT did not affect post‐transplant outcomes in patients meeting Milan criteria but did result in lower three‐yr HCC recurrence (7% vs. 75%, p < 0.001) and better three‐yr survival (p = 0.02) in patients meeting R4T3 criteria. Tumor biology and pre‐transplant LRT are important factors that determine the post‐transplant outcomes in patients with HCC who meet R4T3 criteria.     

Nutritional status of patients with alcoholic cirrhosis undergoing liver transplantation: time trends and impact on survival

Alcoholic cirrhotics evaluated for liver transplantation are frequently malnourished or obese. We analyzed alcoholic cirrhotics undergoing transplantation to examine time trends of nutrition/weight, transplant outcome, and effects of concomitant hepatitis C virus (HCV) and/or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Nutrition and transplant outcomes were reviewed for alcoholic cirrhosis with/without HCV/HCC. Malnutrition was defined by subjective global assessment. Body mass index (BMI) classified obesity. A total of 261 patients receiving transplants were separated (1988–2000, 2001–2006, and 2007–2011) to generate similar size cohorts. Mean BMI for the whole cohort was 28 ± 6 with 68% classified as overweight/obese. Mean BMI did not vary among cohorts and was not affected by HCV/HCC. While prevalence of malnutrition did not vary among cohorts, it was lower in patients with HCV/HCC (P < 0.01). One‐year graft/patient survival was 90% and not impacted by time period, HCV/HCC, or malnutrition after adjusting for demographics and model end‐stage liver disease (MELD). Alcoholic cirrhotics undergoing transplantation are malnourished yet frequently overweight/obese. Among patients selected for transplantation, 1‐year post‐transplant graft/patient survival is excellent, have not changed over time, and do not vary by nutrition/BMI. Our findings support feasibility of liver transplantation for alcoholic cirrhotics with obesity and malnutrition.     

An Early Regional Experience with Expansion of Milan Criteria for Liver Transplant Recipients

The Milan Criteria (MC) showed that orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) was an effective treatment for patients with nonresectable, nonmetastatic HCC. There is growing evidence that expanding the MC does not adversely affect patient or allograft survival following OLT. The adult OLT programs in UNOS Region 4 reached an agreement allowing lesions outside MC (one lesion <6 cm, ≤3 lesions, none >5 cm and total diameter <9 cm—[R4 T3]) to receive the same exception points as MC lesions. Kaplan–Meier curves and log‐rank tests were used to compare survival data. Chi‐squared and Mann–Whitney U tests were used to compare patient data. A p‐value of <0.05 was considered significant. All statistical analyses were performed on SPSS 15 (SPSS, Chicago, IL). Four hundred and forty‐five patients were transplanted for HCC (363‐MC and 82‐R4 T3). Patient demographics were found to be similar between the two groups. Three year patient, allograft and recurrence free survival between MC and R4 T3 were found to be 72.9% and 77.1%, 71% and 70.2% and 90.5% and 86.9%, respectively (all p > 0.05). We report the first regionalized multicenter, prospective study showing benefit of OLT in patients exceeding MC based on preoperative imaging.     

Impact of neoadjuvant transarterial chemoembolization on tumor recurrence and patient survival after liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective analysis

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) has gained wide acceptance as a bridge to liver transplantation (LT) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Aim of this analysis was to compare long‐term results with and without neoadjuvant TACE and to identify subgroups, which particularly benefit from TACE. Patients with HCC transplanted at our center were retrospectively analyzed. The following were excluded to increase consistency: incidental‐HCC, Child‐C, living‐related‐LT, other HCC‐specific‐treatment. Of 336 patients, 177 were subject of this analysis, 71 received TACE and 106 no HCC therapy. Patients with and without TACE showed similar five‐yr survival (73/67%) and recurrence rates (23/29%). Progression on the waiting list was associated with a higher recurrence rate in the TACE (50 vs.12%) and the non‐TACE group (40 vs. 22%). HCC recurrence was reduced in patients inside Milan (0.053) and UCSF (0.037) criteria by neoadjuvant TACE but not outside UCSF (0.99). Also a trend towards an improved survival was seen within these criteria. Our large single center experience suggests that TACE lowers the HCC recurrence rate in patients inside the Milan and UCSF criteria. Moreover, the response to TACE is a good indicator of low recurrence rates. The effect of TACE might be more pronounced in patients with longer waiting time than in this cohort (mean, 4.6 months).     

The estimated number of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma selected for liver transplantation using expanded selection criteria

Recently, several groups have introduced expanded criteria for selection of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prior to transplant, but the exact number of potential newly recruited patients remains unclear. This registry-based study assessed 270 patients diagnosed with HCC. The potential number of transplant candidates was based on age (≤65 years), absence of metastases and macro-vascular invasion, and on 12 previously published, expanded selection criteria. A wide range of increase in the number of transplant candidates was observed (12–63% when compared with the number of such candidates who would have been selected solely based on the Milan criteria). The most conservative criteria were Seoul (Kwon, 2007; increase of 12%), Valencia (Silva, 2008; 16%), total tumor volume/alpha-fetoprotein (Toso, 2009; 20%) and UCSF (Yao, 2007; 20%). This data will assist Centers and policy agencies in predicting the need for resources linked to an expansion of criteria.