Indicators of prognosis after liver transplantation in Chinese hepatocellular carcinoma patients

AIM： To identify prognostic factors of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）, who were treated by orthotopic liver transplantation （OLT）. METHODS： From January 2000 to October 2006, 165 patients with HCC underwent OLT. Various clinicopathological risk factors for actuarial and recurrencefree survival were identified using the Kaplan-Meier method with the log-rank test. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify independently predictive factors for actuarial and recurrence-free survival, which were used to propose new selection criteria. We compared the outcome of the subgroup patients meeting different criteria. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method with the log-rank test. RESULTS： The median follow-up was 13.0 mo （2.8-69.5 too）. Overall, 1-, 2-, 3- and 5-year actuarial survival was 73.3%, 45.6%, 35.4% and 32.1%, respectively. One-, 2-, 3- and 5-year overall recurrencefree survival was 67.0%, 44.3%, 34.5% and 34.5%, respectively. In univariate analysis, number of tumors, total tumor size, lobar distribution, differentiation, macrovascular invasion, microvascular invasion, capsulation of the tumor, and lymph node metastasis were found to be associated significantly with actuarial and tumor-free survival. By means of using the multivariate Cox proportional hazards model, total tumor size and macrovascular invasion were found to be independent predictors of actuarial and tumor-free survival. When the selection criteria were expanded into the proposed criteria, there was no significant difference in 1-, 2-, 3- and 5-year actuarial and tumor-free survival of the 49 patients who met the proposed criteria （97.6%, 82.8%, 82.8% and 82.8%, and 90.7%, 82.8%, 68.8% and 68.8%, respectively） compared with that of patients who met the Milan or University of California, San Francisco （UCSF） criteria. CONCLUSION： Macrovascular invasion and total tumor diameter are the strongest prognostic factors. The proposed criteria do not adversely affect the outcome of liver transplantation for HCC, compared with the Milan or UCSF criteria.     

Bridging and downstaging treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation

Several therapeutic procedures have been proposed as bridging treatments for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)awaiting liver transplantation(LT).The most used treatments include transarterial chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation.Surgical resection has also been successfully used as a bridging procedure,and LT should be considered a rescue treatment in patients with previous HCC resection who experience tumor recurrence or post-treatment severe decompensation of liver function.The aims of bridging treatments include decreasing the waiting list dropout rate before transplantation,reducing HCC recurrence after transplantation,and improving post-transplant overall survival.To date,no data from prospective randomized studies are available;however,for HCC patients listed for LT within the Milan criteria,prolonging the waiting time over 6-12 mo is a risk factor for tumor spread.Bridging treatments are useful in containing tumor progression and decreasing dropout.Furthermore,the response to pre-LT treatments may represent a surrogate marker of tumor biological aggressiveness and could therefore be evaluated to prioritize HCC candidates for LT.Lastly,although a definitive conclusion can not be reached,the experiences reported to date suggest a positive impact of these treatments on both tumor recurrence and post-transplant patient survival.Advanced HCC may be downstaged to achieve and maintain the current conventional criteria for inclusion in the waiting list for LT.Recent studies have demonstrated that successfully downstaged patients can achieve a 5-year survival rate comparable to that of patients meeting the conventional criteria without requiring downstaging.     

Optimal duration of the early and late recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy

AIM: To determine the best cut-off value between the early and late recurrence periods after the initial recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).METHODS: The clinical records of 404 patients who underwent macroscopic curative hepatectomy for HCC between 1980 and 2010 were retrospectively examined. We divided the 252 patients experienced a recurrence of HCC into two groups, the early and late recurrence groups using the "minimum P-value" approach. Factors for early recurrence were investigated using all 404 patients, and factors related to late recurrence were investigated in the patients who were confirmed to be recurrence free at the end of the early recurrence period.RESULTS: For the 252 patients who experienced a recurrence, the optimal cut-off value for differentiating early and late recurrence based on the overall survival after initial recurrence was 17 mo(5-year overall survival after initial recurrence: 15.4% vs 36.3%, P = 0.000018). Cox proportional hazard analysis identified early recurrence(P = 0.003) as one of the independent prognostic factors associated with overall survival after initial recurrence. A logistic regression model showed that an alpha-fetoprotein level > 100 ng/m L(P < 0.001), multiple HCC(P < 0.001), serosal invasion(P = 0.031), and microvascular invasion(P = 0.012) were independent factors associated with early recurrence, whereas the only independent factor related to late recurrence was liver cirrhosis(P = 0.002).CONCLUSION: Seventeen months after hepatectomy is a useful cut-off value between early and late recurrence of HCC based on the prognosis and different etiologies.     

A three-factor preoperative scoring model predicts risk of recurrence after liver resection or transplantation in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with preserved liver function

BACKGROUND: No staging systems of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) are tailored for assessing recurrence risk. We sought to establish a recurrence risk scoring system to predict recurrence of HCC patients receiving surgical curative treatment(liver resection or transplantation).METHODS: We retrospectively studied 286 HCC patients with preserved liver function receiving liver resection(n=184) or transplantation(n=102). Independent risk factors were identified to construct the recurrence risk scoring model. The recurrence free survival and discriminatory ability of the model were analyzed. RESULTS: Total tumor volume, HBs Ag status, plasma fibrinogen level were included as independent prognostic factors for recurrence-free survival and used for constructing a 3-factor recurrence risk scoring model. The scoring model was as follows: 0.758×HBs Ag status(negative: 0; positive: 1)+0.387×plasma fibrinogen level(≤3.24 g/L: 0; 3.24 g/L: 1)+0.633×total tumor volume(≤107.5 cm3: 0; 107.5 cm3: 1). The cutoff value was set to 1.02, and we defined the patients with the score ≤1.02 as a low risk group and those with the score 1.02 as a high risk group. The 3-year recurrence-free survival rate was significantly higher in the low risk group compared with that in the high risk group(67.9% vs 41.3%, P0.001). In the subgroup analysis, liver transplantation patients had a better3-year recurrence-free survival rate than the liver resection patients in the low risk group(80.0% vs 64.0%, P0.01). Additionally for patients underwent liver transplantation, we compared the recurrence risk model with the Milan criteria in the prediction of recurrence, and the 3-year recurrence survival rates were similar(80.0% vs 79.3%, P=0.906).CONCLUSION: Our recurrence risk scoring model is effective in categorizing recurrence risks and in predicting recurrencefree survival of HCC before potential surgical curative treatment.     

Clinical outcome in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after living-donor liver transplantation

AIM: To investigate risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) and efficacy of various criteria. METHODS: From October 2000 to November 2011, 233 adult patients underwent LDLT for HCC at our institution. After excluding nine postoperative mortality cases, we analyzed retrospectively 224 patients. To identify risk factors for recurrence, we evaluated recurrence, disease-free survival (DFS) rate, survival rate, and various other factors which are based on the characteristics of both the patient and tumor. Additionally, we developed our own criteria based on our data. Next, we compared our selection criteria with various tumor-grading scales, such as the Milan criteria, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) criteria, TNM stage, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage and Cancer of the Liver Italian Program (CLIP) scoring system. The median follow up was 68 (6-139) mo.RESULTS: In 224 patients who received LDLT for HCC, 37 (16.5%) experienced tumor recurrence during the follow-up period. The 5-year DFS and overall survival rates after LDLT in all patients with HCC were 80.9% and 76.4%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, the tumor diameter {5 cm; P < 0.001; exponentiation of the B coefficient [Exp(B)], 11.89; 95%CI: 3.784-37.368} and alpha fetoprotein level [AFP, 100 ng/mL; P = 0.021; Exp(B), 2.892; 95%CI: 1.172-7.132] had significant influences on HCC recurrence after LDLT. Therefore, these two factors were included in our criteria. Based on these data, we set our selection criteria as a tumor diameter ≤ 5 cm and AFP ≤ 100 ng/mL. Within our new criteria (140/214, 65.4%), the 5-year DFS and overall survival rates were 88.6% and 81.8%, respectively. Our criteria (P = 0.001), Milan criteria (P = 0.009), and UCSF criteria (P = 0.001) showed a significant difference in DFS rate. And our criteria (P = 0.006) and UCSF criteria (P = 0.009) showed a significant difference in overall survival rate. But Milan criteria did not show significan     

Up-to-seven criteria for hepatocellular carcinoma liver transplantation:A single center analysis

AIM:To detect whether the up-to-seven should be used as inclusion criteria for liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma.METHODS:Between April 2002 and July 2008,220hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)patients who were diagnosed with HCC and underwent liver transplantation(LT)at our liver transplantation center were included.These patients were divided into three groups according to the characteristics of their tumors(tumor diameter,tumor number):the Milan criteria group(Group 1),the in up-to-seven group(Group 2)and the out up-toseven group(Group 3).Then,we compared long-term survival and tumor recurrence of these three groups.RESULTS:The baseline characteristics of transplant recipients were comparable among these three groups,except for the type of liver graft(deceased donor liver transplant or live donor liver transplantation).There were also no significant differences in the pre-operativeα-fetoprotein level.The 1-,3-,and 5-year overall survival and tumor-free survival rate for the Milan criteriagroup were 94.8%,91.4%,89.7%and 91.4%,86.2%,and 86.2%respectively;in the up-to-seven criteria group,these rates were 87.8%,77.8%,and 76.6%and 85.6%,75.6%,and 75.6%respectively(P<0.05).However,the advanced HCC patients’(in the group out of up-to-seven criteria)overall and tumor-free survival rates were much lower,at 75%,53.3%,and 50%and65.8%,42.5%,and 41.7%,respectively(P<0.01).CONCLUSION:Considering that patients in the up-toseven criteria group exhibited a considerable but lower survival rate compared with the Milan criteria group,the up-to-seven criteria should be used carefully and selectively.     

Combined Hangzhou criteria with neutrophillymphocyte ratio is superior to other criteria in selecting liver transplantation candidates with HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND: The elevation of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio(NLR) has adverse effects on the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) who have received liver transplantation(LT). The Hangzhou criteria are set for selecting HCC patients for LT. The present study aimed to establish a set of new criteria combining the NLR and Hangzhou criteria for selecting HCC patients for LT.METHODS: Receiver operating characteristic(ROC) analysis was done to determine the optimal NLR threshold. Univariate and multivariate analyses were made to evaluate the factors affecting the outcomes of HCC patients after LT. We also proposed new criteria consisting of the elevated NLR and Hangzhou criteria. ROC analysis was carried out to validate the feasibility of the new criteria.RESULTS: Three hundred and five HCC patients were included in this study. The mean follow-up time of these patients was 5.4 years. Of the 305 patients,197(64.6%) showed elevated NLRs(NLR 4). The recurrence-free survival rates of the patients with elevated NLRs at 1,3 and 5 years were lower than those of the patients with normal NLRs(NLR ≤4)(50.1%,21.7% and 20.2% vs 80.5%,58.7% and 56.4%,respectively; P0.001). The overall survival rate was lower in the patients with elevated NLR than in those with normal NLR at 1,3 and 5 years(60.8%,27.0% and 22.5% vs 78.4%,51.1% and 47.8%,respectively; P0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that an NLR 4(P=0.034),total tumor size 8 cm(P=0.005),alpha-fetoprotein level 400 μg/L(P=0.007) and the presence of vascular invasion(P=0.003) were independent predictors of HCC recurrence in post-transplant patients. We proposed a set of new criteria based on the elevated NLR and Hangzhou criteria. A ROC analysis demonstrated that the patients with scores ≥1 had an area under the curve of 0.764.CONCLUSION: The criteria combining the elevated NLR and Hangzhou criteria can be used to select patients with HCC for LT.     

Risk factors for immediate post-operative fatal recurrence after curative resection of hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM:To investigate the clinicopathological riskfactors for immediate post-operative fatal recurrenceof hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC),which may havepractical implication and contribute to establishinghigh risk patients for pre-or post-operative preventivemeasures against HCC recurrence.METHODS:From June 1994 to May 2004,269 patientswho received curative resection for HCC were reviewed.Of these patients,those who demonstrated diffuse intra-hepatic or multiple systemic recurrent lesions within 6mo after surgery were investigated (fatal recurrencegroup).The remaining patients were designated as thecontrol group,and the two groups were compared forclinicopathologic risk factors.RESULTS:Among the 269 patients reviewed,30patients were enrolled in the fatal recurrence group.Among the latter,20 patients showed diffuse intra-hepatic recurrence type and 10 showed multiple systemicrecurrence type.Multivariate analysis between the fatalrecurrence group and control group showed that pre-operative serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level wasgreater than 1000 μg/L (P=0.02; odds ratio=2.98),tumor size greater than 6.5 cm (P=0.03; OR=2.98),and presence of microvascular invasion (P=0.01;OR=4.89) were the risk factors in the fatal recurrencegroup.The 48.1% of the patients who had all the threerisk factors and the 22% of those who had two riskfactors experienced fatal recurrence within 6 mo aftersurgery.CONCLUSION:Three distinct risk factors for immediatepost-operative fatal recurrence of HCC after curativeresection are pre-operative serum AFP level>1000 μg/L, tumor size>6.5 cm,and microvascular invasion.Thehigh risk patients with two or more risk factors should bethe candidates for various adjuvant clinical trials.     

Inflammatory markers as selection criteria of hepatocellular carcinoma in living-donor liver transplantation

AIM:To investigate that inflammatory markers can predict accurately the prognosis of hepatocelluar carcinoma(HCC)patients in living-donor liver transplantation(LDLT).METHODS:From October 2000 to November 2011,224 patients who underwent living donor liver transplantation for HCC at our institution were enrolled in this study.We analyzed disease-free survival(DFS)and overall survival(OS)after LT in patients with HCC and designed a new score model using pretransplant neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio(NLR)and C-reactive protein(CRP).RESULTS:The DFS and OS in patients with an NLR level≥6.0 or CRP level≥1.0 were significantly worse than those of patients with an NLR level<6.0 or CRP level<1.0(P=0.049,P=0.003 for NLR and P=0.010,P<0.001 for CRP,respectively).Using a new score model using the pretransplant NLR and CRP,we can differentiate HCC patients beyond the Milan criteria with agood prognosis from those with a poor prognosis.CONCLUSION:Combined with the Milan criteria,new score model using NLR and CRP represent new selection criteria for LDLT candidates with HCC,especially beyond the Milan criteria.     

Patients with early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma have poor prognosis

BACKGROUND: Early recurrence(ER) after hepatic resection(HR) is a poor prognostic factor for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). This study aimed to identify the clinicopathological features, outcomes, and risk factors for ER after HR for small HCC in order to clarify the reasons why ER is a worse recurrence pattern.METHODS: We retrospectively examined 130 patients who underwent HR for small HCC(≤30 mm). Recurrence was classified into ER(2 years) and late recurrence(LR)(≥2 years). The clinicopathological features, outcomes, and risk factors for ER were analyzed by multivariate analysis.RESULTS: ER was observed in 39 patients(30.0%). The survival rate of the ER group was significantly lower than that of the LR group(P0.005), and ER was an independent prognostic factor for poor survival(P=0.0001). The ER group had a significantly higher frequency(P=0.0039) and shorter interval(P=0.027) of development to carcinoma beyond the Milan criteria(DBMC) compared with the LR group, and ER was an independent risk factor for DBMC(P0.0001). Multi-nodularity, non-simple nodular type, and microvascular invasion were independent predictors for ER(P=0.012, 0.010, and 0.019, respectively).CONCLUSIONS: ER was a highly malignant recurrence pattern associated with DBMC and subsequent poor survival after HR for small HCC. Multi-nodularity, non-simple nodular type, and microvascular invasion predict ER, and taking these factors into consideration may be useful for the decision of the treatment strategy for small HCC after HR.     

Immune checkpoint inhibitor for hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after liver transplantation

To the Editor:Liver cancer is the fifth most common cancer and the second most frequent cause of cancer-related death globally.Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)accounts for 90%of primary liver cancers with the highest incidence in China(more than 50%of all cases worldwide)[1].Liver transplantation(LT)is regarded as an optimal therapy for selected HCC patients.The Milan criteria are the benchmark for candidate selection that ensure excellent prognosis for patients with HCC[2].The Hangzhou criteria expand 51.5%more of Milan criteria for LT candidates with comparable posttransplant survivals[3].However,LT recipients fulfilling Milan criteria or Hangzhou criteria are at the risk of up to 13%−18%HCC recurrence rate within five years[4].Only 25%−50%of recurrent HCC patients post-LT are eligible for surgical treatment which have consistently presented favored survival benefit than systemic therapy[5].     

Role of [18F] fludeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in the selection of liver transplan-tation candidates in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND: The Milan criteria are widely accepted among many centers. However, patients with hepatocellular carcinoma beyond the Milan criteria might still benefit from liver transplantation(LT) when tumor itself is not aggressive. [~(18)F] fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging could provide useful information of tumor behaviors, which is helpful to predict the prognosis for many tumors. METHOD: In order to determine its role in candidate selection for LT, we therefore retrospectively analyzed 103 recipients with preoperative positron emission tomography(PET) findings. RESULTS: Positive PET findings(PET+) were significantly associated with tumor nodule numbers(P=0.013), tumor grade(P=0.025), macro-(P=0.002) and micro-vascular invasion(P=0.002), as well as the Milan criteria(P=0.018). PET+ patients had significantly increased risk of tumor recurrence post-LT compared to PET negative(PETˉ) patients(P=0.007). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rate of PETˉ patients were 96.0%, 87.2% and 76.2%, compared to 74.7%, 55.4% and 49.9% in PET+ patients, respectively(P0.05). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year recurrence-free survival rate of PETˉ patients were 91.8%,81.9% and 76.0%, compared to 70.1%, 39.3% and 21.9% in PET+ patients, respectively(P0.05). Recipients within the Milan criteria showed comparable 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates in comparison with those beyond the Milan criteria with a PETˉ findings(1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates, 97.5%, 83.3%, and 83.3% vs 90.0%, 80.0%, and 66.7%, P= 0.123; 1-, 3-, and 5-year recurrence-free survival rates, 95.1%, 73.1%, and 73.1% vs 90.0%, 78.8%, and 65.6%, P=0.148).CONCLUSIONS: Certain patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and negative PET findings, who have exceeded the Milan criteria, are also eligible candidates for LT. Preoperative PET/CT imaging is an important marker, which should be incorporated in extended candidate selection criteria for LT.     

Prognostic value of 18F-FDG PET/CT in liver transplantation for hepatocarcinoma

AIM:To evaluate the prognostic value of pretreatment F D G p o s i t r o n e m i s s i o n t o m o g ra p h y c o m p u t e d tomography(PET-CT) in patients with hepatocarcinoma treated by liver transplantation(LT).METHODS:The authors retrospectively analyzed the data of 27 patients(mean age 58 ± 9 years) who underwent FDG PET-CT before LT for hepatocarcinoma.Mean follow-up was 26 ± 18 mo.The FDG PET/CT was performed according to a standard clinical protocol:4 MBq FDG/kg body weight,uptake 60 min,low-dose non-enhanced CT.The authors measured the SUVmax and SUVmean of the tumor and the normal liver.The tumor/liver activity ratios(RSUVmax and RSUVmean) were tested as prognostic factors and compared to the following conventional prognostic factors:MILAN,CLIP,OKUDA,TNM stage,alphafoetoprotein level,portal thrombosis,size of the largest nodule,tumor differentiation,microvascular invasion,underlying cirrhosis and liver function.RESULTS:Overall and recurrence free survivals were80.7%and 67.4%at 3 years,and 70.6%and 67.4%at 5 years,respectively.According to a multivariate Cox model,only FDG PET/CT RSUVmax predicted recurrence free survival.Even though the MILAN criteria alone were not predictive,it is worth noting that none of the patients outside the MILAN criteria and with RSUVmax1.15 relapsed.CONCLUSION:FDG PET/CT with an RSUVmax cutoff value of 1.15 is a strong prognostic factor for recurrence and death in patients with HCC treated by LT in this retrospective series.Further prospectivestudies should test whether this metabolic index should be systematically included in the preoperative assessment.     

Liver transplantation for intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma: An adaptive approach

Hepatocellular carcinoma is becoming an increasing indication for liver transplantation, but selection and allocation of patients are challenging because of organ shortages. Conventional Milan criteria are the reference for the selection of patients worldwide, but many expanded criteria, like University of California San Francisco criteria and up-to-7 criteria, have demonstrated that survival and recurrence results are lower than those for restricted indications. Correct staging is crucial and should include surrogate markers of biological aggressiveness(α-fetoprotein, response to loco-regional treatments). Successful down-staging can select between patients with tumor burden initially beyond transplantation criteria those with a more favorable biology, provided a 3-mo stability in meeting the transplantation criteria. Allocation rules are constantly adjusted to minimize the imbalance between the priorities of candidates with and without hepatocellular carcinoma, and take into account local donor rate and waitlist dynamics. Recently, Mazzaferro et al proposed a benefit-oriented "adaptive approach", in which the selection and allocation of patients are based on their response to non-transplantation treatments: low priority for transplantation in case of complete response, high priority in case of partial response or recurrence, and no listing in case of progression beyond transplantation criteria.     

Hepatic intra-arterial infusion of yttrium-90 microspheres in the treatment of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation： A case report

INTRODUCTION Strict criteria developed to select patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for liver transplantation have increased the survival and decreased the recurrence of tumor after transplantation[1]. However, tumor recurrence and subsequent mo…     

Pathologic response to preoperative transarte-rial chemoembolization for resectable hepato-cellular carcinoma may not predict recurrence after liver resection

BACKGROUND: Pathologic response(PR) predicts survival after preoperative chemotherapy and resection of a malignancy. Occasionally, transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)may be selected for preoperative management of resectable hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). This study investigated whether PR to preoperative TACE can predict recurrence after resection for resectable HCC.METHODS: We conducted analysis of 106 HCC patients who underwent TACE followed by liver resection with a curative intent. The PR was evaluated as the mean percentage of nonviable tumor area within each tumor. We divided the patients into three groups according to response rate: complete PR(CPR), major response(MJR: PR≥50%) and minor response(MNR: PR50%). The primary endpoint was disease-free survival, and the secondary endpoints were predicting factors for tumor recurrence and MJR+CPR.RESULTS: Among the 121 TACE patients, PR could be measured in 106(87.6%). The mean interval between TACE and liver resection was 33.1 days. The 5-year disease-free survival rates by PR status were as follows: 40.6% CPR, 43.7% MJR, and 49.0% MNR(P=0.815). There were also no significant differences in overall survival between the three groups. Multivariate analyses revealed that microvascular invasion and capsular invasion(hazard ratio [HR]=11.224, P=0.002 and HR=2.220P=0.043) were independent predictors of disease-free survival.Multivariate analysis of the predictors of above 50% PR revealed that only hepatitis B was an independent factor.CONCLUSION: These data could reflect that the PR after TACE for resectable HCC may not be useful for predicting recurrence of HCC after resection.     

From minimal to maximal surgery in the treatment of hepatocarcinoma:A review

Hepatocellular carcinoma represents one of the most challenging frontiers in liver surgery. Surgeons have to face a broad spectrum of aspects,from the underlying liver disease to the new surgical techniques. Safe liver resection can be performed in patients with portal hypertension and well-compensated liver function witha 5-year survival rate of 50%,offering good longterms results in selected patients. With the advances in laparoscopic surgery,major liver resections can be performed with minimal harm,avoiding the wound and leak complications related to the laparotomies. Studies have shown that oncological margins are the same as in open surgery. In patients submitted to liver resection(either laparoscopic or open) who experience recurrence,re-resection or salvage liver transplantation has been showing to be an alternative approach in well selected cases. The decision making approach to the cirrhotic patient is becoming more complex and should involve hepatologists,liver surgeons,radiologists and oncologists. Better understanding of the different risk factors for recurrence and survival should be aimed in these multidisciplinary discussions. We here in discuss the hot topics related to surgical risk factors regarding the surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: anatomical resection,margin status,macrovascular tumor invasion,the place of laparoscopy,salvage liver transplantation and liver transplantation.     

Recurrence of autoimmune hepatitis after liver transplantation without elevation of alanine aminotransferase

It is controversial whether steroid therapy should be continued to prevent the recurrence of autoimmune hepatitis(AIH)in patients who have undergone liver transplantation(LTx)due to AIH.We report a case of recurrent autoimmune hepatitis after LTx despite a persistently normal range of alanine aminotransferase(ALT).A 50-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of jaundice and severe liver dysfunction,where she was diagnosed with liver failure due to AIH.Steroid therapy was not effective enough and the patient received living-donor LTx in 1999.Following the operation,the level of ALT was maintained within a normal range and anti-nuclear antibody(ANA)became negative,however,the serum level of IgG gradually elevated and ANA became positive,while platelets decreased.A liver biopsy performed 6 years after LTx showed histological findings of AIH and she was diagnosed with recurrent AIH.A recurrence of AIH may occur after LTx even if the level of ALT remains within a normal range.We consider that a protocol liver biopsy should be performed in patients who undergo LTx due to AIH to decide the indication for steroid therapy.     

Adjuvant hepatic chemotherapy after resection of solitary hepatocellular carcinoma associated with hepatitis B virus cirrhosis

BACKGROUND: Although resection is the major treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma ( HCC), the high intrahepatic recurrence remains a cardinal cause of death. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy on the survival and recurrence of HCC patients with hepatitis B virus ( HBV) cirrhosis after resection. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients who had undergone placement of a hepatic arterial pump at the time of liver wedge resection for HCC from 1998 through 2004 were reviewed retrospectively. These patients aged 23-71 years had HBV cirrhosis (Child-Pugh class A or B). They were given floxuridine(FUDR) (250 mg), doxorubicin (10 mg) and mitomycin C (4 mg) alternatively every 2 or 3 days through arterial pumps for 8 cycles each year in the first two years after resection. Meanwhile, traditional Chinese herbal medicine was prescribed to the patients. When the leucocyte count was as low as 3 x 109/L or asparate aminotransferase (AST) level was significantly increased, the regimen of chemotherapy was delayed for the normalization of leucocyte count and AST level (below 80 U/L). RESULTS: Of the 28 patients, 23 received 8 or 16 cycles of the set regimen of chemotherapy. These patients are alive with no evidence of recurrence. Among them, 5,7, and 11 patients are alive beyond 5 years, 3 years, and 1 year respectively. In the remaining 5 patients, 3 who had had a HCC 10 cm or more in diameter showed tumor recurrence within 1 year, in whom, 8 cycles of chemotherapy were not completed because of their low leucocyte count (<3 × 109/L) and poor liver function. One patient who had received 8 cycles of chemotherapy demonstrated recurrence at 16 months after resection. One patient who had received 16 cycles of chemotherapy had intrahepatic recurrence at 58 months after surgery. No recurrence was observed in 17 patients who had received 16 cycles of chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Adjuvant hepatic arterial chemotherapy may be feasible to improve the survival of patients after resection of solitary HCC associated with HBV cirrhosis.     

Current strategies for preventing the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation

<正>BACKGROUND:Liver transplantation is the optimal treatment for a selected group of patients with moderate to severe cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Despite the strict selection of candidates,post-transplant recurrence often occurs and markedly reduces the long-term survival of patients with HCC.The present review focuses on the current strategies on preventing the recurrence of HCC after liver transplantation.