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Tabrizian P, Holzner ML, Mehta N, Halazun K, Agopian VG, Yao F, Busuttil RW, Roberts J, Emond JC, Samstein B, Brown RS, Najjar M, Chapman WC, Doyle MM, Florman SS, Schwartz ME, Llovet JM. Ten-Year Outcomes of Liver Transplant and Downstaging for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. JAMA Surg 2022; 157:779-788. [PMID: 35857294 PMCID: PMC9301590 DOI: 10.1001/jamasurg.2022.2800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Importance National guidelines on transplant selection have adopted successful downstaging to within Milan criteria (MC) as a viable option for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) before liver transplant (LT). Recurrence of HCC after LT carries a poor prognosis, and treatment modalities remain challenging. Objective To establish the 10-year outcomes of patients with HCC after LT in a large, multicenter US study based on individual data; provide robust data on the long-term role of downstaging; and evaluate the association of treatment modalities with postrecurrence survival. Design, Setting, and Participants In this cohort study, a retrospective, multicenter analysis of prospectively collected data was conducted for 2645 adults who had undergone LT for HCC at 5 US academic centers between January 2001 and December 2015. The analysis was performed from May 2019 through June 2021. Outcomes of 341 patients whose disease was downstaged to within MC were compared with those in 2122 patients whose disease was always within MC and 182 patients whose disease was not downstaged. The associations of tumor and treatment factors on postrecurrence survival were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards regression and multivariable logistic regression models. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was overall survival for the whole cohort and according to downstaging status. Secondary outcomes were time to recurrence, recurrence-free survival, and recurrence after specific post-LT therapies. Results Of the 2645 patients studied, the median age was 59.9 years (IQR, 54.7-64.7 years). The majority of the patients were men (2028 [76.7%] vs 617 [23.3%] women). The 10-year post-LT survival and recurrence rates were, respectively, 52.1% and 20.6% among those whose disease was downstaged; 61.5% and 13.3% in those always within MC; and 43.3% and 41.1% in those whose disease was not downstaged. Independent variables associated with downstaging failure were tumor size greater than 7 cm at diagnosis (OR, 2.62; 95% CI, 1.20-5.75; P = .02), more than 3 tumors at diagnosis (OR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.22-4.50; P = .01), and α-fetoprotein response of at least 20 ng/mL with less than 50% improvement from maximum α-fetoprotein before LT (OR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.14-3.46; P = .02). Surgically treated patients with recurrent HCC differed in clinicopathologic characteristics and had improved 5-year postrecurrence survival rates (31.6% vs 7.3%; P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance In a large, multicenter cohort of patients with HCC successfully downstaged to within MC, 10-year post-LT outcomes were excellent, validating national downstaging policies and showing a clear utility benefit for LT prioritization decision making. Surgical management of HCC recurrence after LT was associated with improved survival in well-selected patients and should be pursued, if feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parissa Tabrizian
- Liver Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Recanati/Miller Transplantation Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Matthew L. Holzner
- Liver Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Recanati/Miller Transplantation Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Neil Mehta
- Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Karim Halazun
- Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Vatche G. Agopian
- Division of Liver and Pancreas Transplantation, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles
| | - Francis Yao
- Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Ronald W. Busuttil
- Division of Liver and Pancreas Transplantation, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles
| | - John Roberts
- Division of Transplant Surgery, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Jean C. Emond
- Liver and Abdominal Transplant Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Benjamin Samstein
- Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Robert S. Brown
- Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Marc Najjar
- Liver and Abdominal Transplant Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - William C. Chapman
- Section of Transplant Surgery, Division of General Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, Missouri
| | - Majella Mb. Doyle
- Section of Transplant Surgery, Division of General Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, Missouri
| | - Sander S. Florman
- Liver Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Recanati/Miller Transplantation Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Myron E. Schwartz
- Liver Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Recanati/Miller Transplantation Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Josep M. Llovet
- Mount Sinai Liver Cancer Program, Division of Liver Diseases, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
- Translational Research in Hepatic Oncology, Liver Unit, August Pi i Sunyer Biomedica Research Institute, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Institució Catalana d’Estudis Avançats, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
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Huang AC, Dodge JL, Yao FY, Mehta N. National Experience on Waitlist Outcomes for Down-Staging of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: High Dropout Rate in All-Comers. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 21:1581-1589. [PMID: 36038129 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2022.08.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) grants priority listing for liver transplant for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after successful down-staging to Milan criteria. We evaluated the national experience on down-staging by comparing 2 down-staging groups: tumor burden meeting UNOS down-staging (UNOS-DS) inclusion criteria, and all-comers (AC)-DS with initial tumor burden beyond UNOS-DS criteria vs patients always within Milan criteria. METHODS We performed a retrospective analysis of the UNOS database of 23,398 patients listed for liver transplant who had submitted a hepatocellular carcinoma Model for End-Stage Liver Disease exception application from 2010 to 2019, classified as always within Milan (n = 20,579), UNOS-DS (n = 2151), and AC-DS (n = 668). RESULTS The 2-year cumulative probabilities of dropout were 19% for Milan, 25% for UNOS-DS (P < .001), and 30% for AC-DS (P < .001). In multivariate analysis of the down-staging groups, factors predicting dropout included Model for End-Stage Liver Disease at listing (hazard ratio [HR], 1.06; P < .001) and initial total tumor diameter (HR, 1.04; P = .002). Compared with α-fetoprotein (AFP) level ≤20 ng/mL, AFP levels of 21 to 100, 101 to 1000, and greater than 1000 ng/mL were associated with a higher risk of dropout (HRs, 1.63, 2.06, and 4.58, respectively; P < .001). A subset of all-comers with AFP levels greater than 100 ng/mL had a 2-year probability of dropout of 52% vs 26% for all others beyond Milan criteria (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS All-comers had a significantly higher risk for waitlist dropout compared with the UNOS-DS and Milan groups after initial successful down-staging to Milan criteria. In particular, the subgroup of AC-DS with an AFP level greater than 100 ng/mL had a greater than 50% probability of dropout in the next 2 years. These observations suggest a high likelihood of failure when expanding the indications for down-staging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annsa C Huang
- Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Jennifer L Dodge
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Francis Y Yao
- Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Neil Mehta
- Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
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Gonvers S, Tabrizian P, Melloul E, Dormond O, Schwartz M, Demartines N, Labgaa I. Is liquid biopsy the future commutator of decision-making in liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma? Front Oncol 2022; 12:940473. [PMID: 36033451 PMCID: PMC9402935 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.940473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver transplant (LT) is the most favorable treatment option for patients with early stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Numerous attempts have been pursued to establish eligibility criteria and select HCC patients for LT, leading to various systems that essentially integrate clinico-morphological variables. Lacking of sufficient granularity to recapitulate the biological complexity of the disease, all these alternatives display substantial limitations and are thus undeniably imperfect. Liquid biopsy, defined as the molecular analysis of circulating analytes released by a cancer into the bloodstream, was revealed as an incomparable tool in the management of cancers, including HCC. It appears as an ideal candidate to refine selection criteria of LT in HCC. The present comprehensive review analyzed the available literature on this topic. Data in the field, however, remain scarce with only 17 studies. Although rare, these studies provided important and encouraging findings highlighting notable prognostic values and supporting the contribution of liquid biopsy in this specific clinical scenario. These results underpinned the critical and urgent need to intensify and accelerate research on liquid biopsy, in order to determine whether and how liquid biopsy may be integrated in the decision-making of LT in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphanie Gonvers
- Department of Visceral Surgery, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Parissa Tabrizian
- Recanati Miller Transplant Institute, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, United States
- Mount Sinai Liver Cancer Program, Division of Liver Diseases, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Emmanuel Melloul
- Department of Visceral Surgery, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Dormond
- Department of Visceral Surgery, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Myron Schwartz
- Recanati Miller Transplant Institute, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, United States
- Mount Sinai Liver Cancer Program, Division of Liver Diseases, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Nicolas Demartines
- Department of Visceral Surgery, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ismail Labgaa
- Department of Visceral Surgery, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Ismail Labgaa,
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Garg T, Shrigiriwar A, Habibollahi P, Cristescu M, Liddell RP, Chapiro J, Inglis P, Camacho JC, Nezami N. Intraarterial Therapies for the Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14143351. [PMID: 35884412 PMCID: PMC9322128 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14143351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Image-guided locoregional therapies play a crucial role in the management of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Transarterial therapies consist of a group of catheter-based treatments where embolic agents are delivered directly into the tumor via their supplying arteries. Some of the transarterial therapies available include bland embolization (TAE), transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), drug-eluting beads-transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE), selective internal radioembolization therapy (SIRT), and hepatic artery infusion (HAI). This article provides a review of pre-procedural, intra-procedural, and post-procedural aspects of each therapy, along with a review of the literature. Newer embolotherapy options and future directions are also briefly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tushar Garg
- Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Russell H Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; (T.G.); (R.P.L.)
| | - Apurva Shrigiriwar
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA;
| | - Peiman Habibollahi
- Department of Interventional Radiology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Mircea Cristescu
- Vascular and Interventional Radiology Division, Department of Radiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA;
| | - Robert P. Liddell
- Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Russell H Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; (T.G.); (R.P.L.)
| | - Julius Chapiro
- Section of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA;
| | - Peter Inglis
- Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA;
| | - Juan C. Camacho
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA;
- Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Radiology Associates of Florida, Sarasota, FL 34239, USA
| | - Nariman Nezami
- Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA;
- Experimental Therapeutics Program, University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- Correspondence:
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Abstract
The therapeutic spectrum of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in cirrhosis has expanded over the last decade and consists of surgical, interventional and systemic approaches. The tumor stage and liver function are important for the therapeutic strategy. Curation can be achieved by liver resection or transplantation. Access to transplantation is limited by organ shortage and waiting time. Locoregional therapies can be used as a bridge to transplant or for down-sizing in a neoadjuvant setting as well as palliative therapy. Advanced stages might benefit from systemic or immunotherapy. Modern multimodal therapy planning, timing and reevaluation are part of the tasks of tumor boards specialised in the liver, including the option of liver transplantation. Therapies can be used alone or in combination and according to the experience of the center. A curative strategy should always be pursued at initial presentation.
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Radiofrequency ablation versus trans-arterial chemoembolization in patients with HCC awaiting liver transplant: an analysis of the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2022; 33:1222-1229.e1. [PMID: 35777619 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvir.2022.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate differences in waitlist mortality/dropout for liver transplant candidates with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who undergo radiofrequency ablation (RFA) versus trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE). MATERIAL AND METHODS From 2004-2013, 11,824 patients in the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) with HCC who underwent RFA or TACE. Patients were followed until December 31, 2019 or 5 years, whichever came first and stratified by Milan criteria. Competing risk and Cox regression analyses to compare waitlist mortality/dropout were performed with adjusted hazard ratios (asHR, reference group RFA). Regression models were adjusted for age, race, sex, calculated Model for End Stage Liver Disease (cMELD) score, tumor size, and number. RESULTS There was no difference in waitlist mortality/dropout for patients outside Milan criteria (N = 1,226) between TACE (19.2%) compared to RFA (19.0%) (asHR 0.91; 95% CI 0.79-1.03). There was also no difference for patients inside Milan criteria (N = 10,598) in waitlist mortality/dropout (TACE 13.4% vs. RFA 12.9%) (asHR 1.29; 95% CI 0.79-2.09). Subgroup analysis within Milan criteria demonstrated no evidence of difference in TACE compared to RFA in patients with single tumor ≤3 cm (asHR 0.92; 95% CI 0.77-1.10), single tumor > 3 cm (asHR 1.03; 95% CI 0.79-1.34), or with > 1 tumor (asHR 0.89; 95% CI 0.72-1.09). CONCLUSION Using national registry data, no difference was found in waitlist mortality/dropout for transplant candidates with HCC who received TACE vs. RFA.
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Zane KE, Nagib PB, Jalil S, Mumtaz K, Makary MS. Emerging curative-intent minimally-invasive therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Hepatol 2022; 14:885-895. [PMID: 35721283 PMCID: PMC9157708 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v14.i5.885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common cause of liver malignancy and the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths universally. Cure can be achieved for early stage HCC, which is defined as 3 or fewer lesions less than or equal to 3 cm in the setting of Child-Pugh A or B and an ECOG of 0. Patients outside of these criteria who can be down-staged with loco-regional therapies to resection or liver transplantation (LT) also achieve curative outcomes. Traditionally, surgical resection, LT, and ablation are considered curative therapies for early HCC. However, results from recently conducted LEGACY study and DOSISPHERE trial demonstrate that transarterial radio-embolization has curative outcomes for early HCC, leading to its recent incorporation into the Barcelona clinic liver criteria guidelines for early HCC. This review is based on current evidence for curative-intent loco-regional therapies including radioembolization for early-stage HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kylie E Zane
- College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Paul B Nagib
- College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Sajid Jalil
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Khalid Mumtaz
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Mina S Makary
- Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
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Agarwal R, Matsuoka LK, Brown DB. Liver-Directed and Systemic Therapy Options for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Natl Compr Canc Netw 2022. [DOI: 10.6004/jnccn.2022.5017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Liver transplant and resection are preferable for the management of hepatocellular carcinoma, but ultimately, tumor location, biology, and patient condition dictate treatment decisions. At the NCCN 2022 Annual Conference, a panel of experts used 3 case studies to develop an evidence-based approach to the treatment of similar patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Moderated by Daniel B. Brown, MD, FSIR, the session focused on current research regarding liver-directed and systemic therapy options.
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Shimamura T, Goto R, Watanabe M, Kawamura N, Takada Y. Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: How Should We Improve the Thresholds? Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14020419. [PMID: 35053580 PMCID: PMC8773688 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14020419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The ideal treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is liver transplantation (LT), which both eliminates the HCC and cures the diseased liver. Once considered an experimental treatment with dismal survival rates, LT for HCC entered a new era with the establishment of the Milan criteria over 20 years ago. However, over the last two decades, the Milan criteria, which are based on tumor morphology, have come under intense scrutiny and are now largely regarded as too restrictive, and limit the access of transplantation for many patients who would otherwise achieve good clinical outcomes. The liver transplant community has been making every effort to reach a goal of establishing more reliable selection criteria. This article addresses how the criteria have been extended, as well as the concept of pre-transplant down-staging to maximize the eligibility. Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third highest cause of cancer-related mortality, and liver transplantation is the ideal treatment for this disease. The Milan criteria provided the opportunity for HCC patients to undergo LT with favorable outcomes and have been the international gold standard and benchmark. With the accumulation of data, however, the Milan criteria are not regarded as too restrictive. After the implementation of the Milan criteria, many extended criteria have been proposed, which increases the limitations regarding the morphological tumor burden, and incorporates the tumor’s biological behavior using surrogate markers. The paradigm for the patient selection for LT appears to be shifting from morphologic criteria to a combination of biologic, histologic, and morphologic criteria, and to the establishment of a model for predicting post-transplant recurrence and outcomes. This review article aims to characterize the various patient selection criteria for LT, with reference to several surrogate markers for the biological behavior of HCC (e.g., AFP, PIVKA-II, NLR, 18F-FDG PET/CT, liquid biopsy), and the response to locoregional therapy. Furthermore, the allocation rules in each country and the present evidence on the role of down-staging large tumors are addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsuyoshi Shimamura
- Division of Organ Transplantation, Hokkaido University Hospital, N-14, W-5, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8648, Hokkaido, Japan
- Correspondence:
| | - Ryoichi Goto
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery I, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, N-15, W-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8638, Hokkaido, Japan;
| | - Masaaki Watanabe
- Department of Transplant Surgery, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, N-15, W-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8638, Hokkaido, Japan; (M.W.); (N.K.)
| | - Norio Kawamura
- Department of Transplant Surgery, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, N-15, W-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8638, Hokkaido, Japan; (M.W.); (N.K.)
| | - Yasutsugu Takada
- Department of HBP and Breast Surgery, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Shitsukawa, Toon 791-0295, Ehime, Japan;
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Biolato M, Galasso T, Marrone G, Miele L, Grieco A. Upper Limits of Downstaging for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Liver Transplantation. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13246337. [PMID: 34944957 PMCID: PMC8699392 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13246337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Currently, most transplant centres worldwide accept patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent successful downstaging. Concurrently, the effectiveness of radiological and systemic therapies used for the downstaging of hepatocellular carcinoma are increasing. It is now more frequently observed that candidates for liver transplantation have an excellent response to downstaging, even if the baseline stage was well beyond the transplantable tumour. Downstaged patients have a higher risk of dropout from the waiting list and post-transplant recurrence if not transplanted in a short time. Since an increasing number of downstaged patients affects the waitlist dynamics, the definition of upper limits of downstaging is becoming a crucial issue. In this narrative review, we summarise current evidence on the downstaging of hepatocellular carcinoma for liver transplantation, including downstaging of patients with macrovascular invasion or extrahepatic metastasis at presentation and employment of the new systemic treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma. Abstract In Europe and the United States, approximately 1100 and 1800 liver transplantations, respectively, are performed every year for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), compared with an annual incidence of 65,000 and 39,000 new cases, respectively. Because of organ shortages, proper patient selection is crucial, especially for those exceeding the Milan criteria. Downstaging is the reduction of the HCC burden to meet the eligibility criteria for liver transplantation. Many techniques can be used in downstaging, including ablation, chemoembolisation, radioembolisation and systemic treatments, with a reported success rate of 60–70%. In recent years, an increasing number of patient responders to downstaging procedures has been included in the waitlist, generally with a comparable five-year post-transplant survival but with a higher probability of dropout than HCC patients within the Milan criteria. While the Milan criteria are generally accepted as the endpoint of downstaging, the upper limits of tumour burden for downstaging HCC for liver transplantation are controversial. Very challenging situations involve HCC patients with large nodules, macrovascular invasion or even extrahepatic metastasis at baseline who respond to increasingly more effective downstaging procedures and who aspire to be placed on the waitlist for transplantation. This narrative review analyses the most important evidence available on cohorts subjected to “extended” downstaging, including HCC patients over the up-to-seven criteria and over the University of California San Francisco downstaging criteria. We also address surrogate markers of biological aggressiveness, such as alpha-fetoprotein and the response stability to locoregional treatments, which are very useful in selecting responders to downstaging procedures for waitlisting inclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Biolato
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Roma, Italy; (M.B.); (G.M.); (L.M.)
- Institute of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Sacred Hearth, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Tiziano Galasso
- Institute of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Sacred Hearth, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Giuseppe Marrone
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Roma, Italy; (M.B.); (G.M.); (L.M.)
- Institute of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Sacred Hearth, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Luca Miele
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Roma, Italy; (M.B.); (G.M.); (L.M.)
- Institute of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Sacred Hearth, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Antonio Grieco
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Roma, Italy; (M.B.); (G.M.); (L.M.)
- Institute of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Sacred Hearth, 00168 Rome, Italy;
- Correspondence:
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Mehta N, Yao FY. Liver Transplantation After Downstaging of Hepatocellular Carcinoma With Portal Vein Tumor Thrombus Using Yttrium-90 Radioembolization: Pipe Dream or Reality? Liver Transpl 2021; 27:1706-1708. [PMID: 34529890 DOI: 10.1002/lt.26302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Neil Mehta
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Francis Y Yao
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
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Crocetti L, Bozzi E, Scalise P, Bargellini I, Lorenzoni G, Ghinolfi D, Campani D, Balzano E, De Simone P, Cioni R. Locoregional Treatments for Bridging and Downstaging HCC to Liver Transplantation. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:5558. [PMID: 34771720 PMCID: PMC8583584 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13215558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver transplantation (LT) is the first-line treatment for patients diagnosed with unresectable early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the setting of cirrhosis. It is well known that HCC patients within the Milan criteria (solitary tumour ≤ 5 cm or ≤3 tumours, each <3 cm) could undergo LT with excellent results. However, there is a growing tendency to enlarge inclusion criteria since the Milan criteria are nowadays considered too restrictive and may exclude patients who would benefit from LT. On the other hand, there is a persistent shortage of donor organs. In this scenario, there is consensus about the role of loco-regional therapy (LRT) during the waiting list to select patients who would benefit more from LT, reducing the risk of drop off from the waiting list as well as decreasing tumour dimension to meet acceptable criteria for LT. In this review, current evidence on the safety, efficacy and utility of LRTs as neoadjuvant therapies before LT are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Crocetti
- Division of Interventional Radiology, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (E.B.); (P.S.); (I.B.); (G.L.); (R.C.)
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (D.C.); (P.D.S.)
| | - Elena Bozzi
- Division of Interventional Radiology, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (E.B.); (P.S.); (I.B.); (G.L.); (R.C.)
| | - Paola Scalise
- Division of Interventional Radiology, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (E.B.); (P.S.); (I.B.); (G.L.); (R.C.)
| | - Irene Bargellini
- Division of Interventional Radiology, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (E.B.); (P.S.); (I.B.); (G.L.); (R.C.)
| | - Giulia Lorenzoni
- Division of Interventional Radiology, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (E.B.); (P.S.); (I.B.); (G.L.); (R.C.)
| | - Davide Ghinolfi
- Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (D.G.); (E.B.)
| | - Daniela Campani
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (D.C.); (P.D.S.)
- Division of Pathology, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Emanuele Balzano
- Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (D.G.); (E.B.)
| | - Paolo De Simone
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (D.C.); (P.D.S.)
- Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (D.G.); (E.B.)
| | - Roberto Cioni
- Division of Interventional Radiology, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (E.B.); (P.S.); (I.B.); (G.L.); (R.C.)
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