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Claasen MPAW, Sneiders D, Rakké YS, Adam R, Bhoori S, Cillo U, Fondevila C, Reig M, Sapisochin G, Tabrizian P, Toso C. European Society of Organ Transplantation (ESOT) Consensus Report on Downstaging, Bridging and Immunotherapy in Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Transpl Int 2023; 36:11648. [PMID: 37779513 PMCID: PMC10533675 DOI: 10.3389/ti.2023.11648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Liver transplantation offers the best chance of cure for most patients with non-metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although not all patients with HCC are eligible for liver transplantation at diagnosis, some can be downstaged using locoregional treatments such as ablation and transarterial chemoembolization. These aforementioned treatments are being applied as bridging therapies to keep patients within transplant criteria and to avoid them from dropping out of the waiting list while awaiting a liver transplant. Moreover, immunotherapy might have great potential to support downstaging and bridging therapies. To address the contemporary status of downstaging, bridging, and immunotherapy in liver transplantation for HCC, European Society of Organ Transplantation (ESOT) convened a dedicated working group comprised of experts in the treatment of HCC to review literature and to develop guidelines pertaining to this cause that were subsequently discussed and voted during the Transplant Learning Journey (TLJ) 3.0 Consensus Conference that took place in person in Prague. The findings and recommendations of the working group on Downstaging, Bridging and Immunotherapy in Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma are presented in this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Petrus Adrianus Wilhelmus Claasen
- Department of Surgery, Division of HPB & Transplant Surgery, Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Multi-Organ Transplant Program, University Health Network (UHN), Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Dimitri Sneiders
- Department of Surgery, Division of HPB & Transplant Surgery, Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Yannick Sebastiaan Rakké
- Department of Surgery, Division of HPB & Transplant Surgery, Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - René Adam
- Centre Hépato-Biliaire, APHP Hôpital Universitaire Paul Brousse, Université Paris-Saclay, Paris, France
| | - Sherrie Bhoori
- Hepatology, Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Umberto Cillo
- Chirurgia Generale 2, Epato-Bilio-Pancreatica e Centro Trapianto di Fegato, Azienda Ospedale Università Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Maria Reig
- BCLC Group, Liver Unit, Digestive Disease Institute, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS CIBEREHD, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gonzalo Sapisochin
- Multi-Organ Transplant Program, University Health Network (UHN), Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Parissa Tabrizian
- Liver Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Recanati/Miller Transplantation Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Christian Toso
- Division of Abdominal Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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Chen IH, Hsu CC, Yong CC, Cheng YF, Wang CC, Lin CC, Chen CL. AFP Response to Locoregional Therapy Can Stratify the Risk of Tumor Recurrence in HCC Patients after Living Donor Liver Transplantation. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15051551. [PMID: 36900345 PMCID: PMC10001078 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15051551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) has been incorporated into the selection criteria of liver transplantation and been used to predict the outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence. Locoregional therapy (LRT) is recommended for bridging or downstaging in HCC patients listed for liver transplantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the AFP response to LRT on the outcomes of hepatocellular carcinoma patients after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). (2) Methods: This retrospective study included 370 HCC LDLT recipients with pretransplant LRT from 2000 to 2016. The patients were divided into four groups according to AFP response to LRT. (3) Results: The nonresponse group had the worst 5-year cumulative recurrence rates whereas the complete-response group (patients with abnormal AFP before LRT and with normal AFP after LRT) had the best 5-year cumulative recurrence rate among the four groups. The 5-year cumulative recurrence rate of the partial-response group (AFP response was over 15% lower) was comparable to the control group. (4) Conclusions: AFP response to LRT can be used to stratify the risk of HCC recurrence after LDLT. If a partial AFP response of over 15% declineis achieved, a comparable result to the control can be expected.
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Affiliation(s)
- I-Hsuan Chen
- Liver Transplantation Center, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Chin Hsu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Chee-Chien Yong
- Liver Transplantation Center, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Fan Cheng
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Chi Wang
- Liver Transplantation Center, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Che Lin
- Liver Transplantation Center, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-77317123 (ext. 8093); Fax: +886-77354309
| | - Chao-Long Chen
- Liver Transplantation Center, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
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Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Alpha Fetoprotein, and Liver Allocation for Transplantation: Past, Present and Future. Curr Oncol 2022; 29:7537-7551. [PMID: 36290870 PMCID: PMC9600271 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol29100593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading indications for liver transplantation and has been the treatment of choice due to the oncologic benefit for patients with advanced chronic liver disease (AdvCLD) and small tumors for the last 25 years. For HCC patients undergoing liver transplantation, alpha fetoprotein (AFP) has increasingly been applied as an independent predictor for overall survival, disease free recurrence, and waitlist drop out. In addition to static AFP, newer studies evaluating the AFP dynamic response to downstaging therapy show enhanced prognostication compared to static AFP alone. While AFP has been utilized to select HCC patients for transplant, despite years of allocation policy changes, the US allocation system continues to take a uniform approach to HCC patients, without discriminating between those with favorable or unfavorable tumor biology. We aim to review the history of liver allocation for HCC in the US, the utility of AFP in liver transplantation, the implications of weaving AFP as a biomarker into policy. Based on this review, we encourage the US transplant community to revisit its HCC organ allocation model, to incorporate more precise oncologic principles for patient selection, and to adopt AFP dynamics to better stratify waitlist dropout risk.
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Circulating biomarkers in the diagnosis and management of hepatocellular carcinoma. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 19:670-681. [PMID: 35676420 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-022-00620-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 54.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent and lethal causes of cancer-related death worldwide. The treatment of HCC remains challenging and is largely predicated on early diagnosis. Surveillance of high-risk groups using abdominal ultrasonography, with or without serum analysis of α-fetoprotein (AFP), can permit detection of early, potentially curable tumours, but is limited by its insensitivity. Reviewed here are two current approaches that aim to address this limitation. The first is to use old re-emerged empirically derived biomarkers such as AFP, now applied within statistical models. The second is to use circulating nucleic acid biomarkers, which include cell-free DNA (for example, circulating tumour DNA, cell-free mitochondrial DNA and cell-free viral DNA) and cell-free RNA, applying modern molecular biology-based technologies and machine learning techniques closely allied to the underlying biology of cancer. Taken together, these approaches are likely to be complementary. Both hold considerable promise for achieving earlier diagnosis as well as offering additional functionalities including improved monitoring of therapy and prediction of response thereto.
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Wei X, Su R, Yang M, Pan B, Lu J, Lin H, Shu W, Wang R, Xu X. Quantitative proteomic profiling of hepatocellular carcinoma at different serum alpha-fetoprotein level. Transl Oncol 2022; 20:101422. [PMID: 35430532 PMCID: PMC9034393 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2022.101422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Serum AFP equal to 400 ng/mL is a pivotal turning point not only in prognosis but also metabolic and invasion associated pathways. Adjacent noncancerous tissues are not biological normal components at protein level. Four druggable targets (C1QBP, HSPE1, CHDH, ITGAL) are identified as potential prognostic biomarkers in hepatocellular carcinoma.
Purpose Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterized by a poor long-term prognosis and high mortality rate. Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels show great prognostic value in patients undergoing hepatectomy. This study aims to explore proteomic profiling in HCC samples based on AFP subgroups and identify potential key targets involved in HCC progression. Methods Twelve paired tumor and adjacent noncancerous tissue samples were collected from patients with HCC who underwent primary curative resection from January 2012 to December 2013. Clinical information was curated from four tissue microarrays to conduct survival analysis based on serum AFP levels. TMT-based quantitative proteomic analyses and bioinformatics analyses were performed to comprehensively profile molecular features. Immunohistochemistry was carried out to validate protein expression of identified targets. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to assess the overall survival and recurrence-free survival based on protein expressions. Results AFP (400 ng/mL) was a turning point in prognosis, metabolic- and invasion-associated pathways. The mass spectrometry analysis yielded a total of 5573 identified proteins. Annotations of 151 differentially expressed proteins in tumors and 95 proteins in paracancerous tissues (1.2-fold) showed similarities in biological processes, cellular components, molecular functions. Furthermore, differentially expressed hub proteins with five innovatively nominated druggable targets (C1QBP, HSPE1, GLUD2 for tumors and CHDH, ITGAL for paracancerous tissues), of which four (C1QBP, HSPE1, CHDH, ITGAL) targets were associated with poor overall survival (all Log-rank P < 0.05). Conclusions Our quantitative proteomics analyses identified four key prognostic biomarkers in HCC and provide opportunities for translational medicine and new treatment.
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Ryan RJ, Taner T, Heimbach JK. When the Sun Sets, Who Doth Not Look for Night? Liver Transpl 2022; 28:747-748. [PMID: 35106929 DOI: 10.1002/lt.26423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Randi J Ryan
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Timucin Taner
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Julie K Heimbach
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
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Goldman ML, Zhou K, Dodge JL, Yao F, Mehta N. Lower Alpha-Fetoprotein Threshold of 500 ng/mL for Liver Transplantation May Improve Posttransplant Outcomes in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Liver Transpl 2022; 28:763-773. [PMID: 34927344 PMCID: PMC9295312 DOI: 10.1002/lt.26392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Under current United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) policy, patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels ≥1000 ng/mL are required to show a reduction in AFP level to <500 ng/mL before liver transplantation (LT). However, effects of AFP reduction on post-LT HCC outcomes among patients with HCC with moderately elevated AFP levels between 100 and <1000 ng/mL are unclear. Adults in the UNOS registry who underwent LTs from January 2005 to September 2015 with initial AFP levels of 100 to 999 ng/mL at listing for Model for End-Stage Liver Disease exceptions were included. Primary predictor was AFP level at LT, categorized as <100, 100 to 499, or ≥500 ng/mL, and patients with only 1 recorded pre-LT AFP value (AFP 1-value). Survival was compared using the Kaplan-Meier curve method. Factors associated with post-LT survival and HCC recurrence were assessed in a multivariable Cox regression model. Among 1766 included patients, 50.2% had AFP 1-value, followed by 24.7%, 18.9%, and 6.2% with AFP levels <100, 100 to 499, and ≥500 ng/mL, respectively. The 5-year post-LT survival rate was lowest in the AFP ≥500 category, at 56.1%, compared with 72.7%, 70.4%, and 65.6% in the AFP <100, 100 to 499 ng/mL, and AFP 1-value categories, respectively. In multivariable analysis, AFP ≥500 ng/mL at LT was associated with a greater risk of post-LT death (hazard ratio [HR], 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-2.1) and HCC recurrence (HR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1-3.1) when compared with the AFP <100 ng/mL category; other significant variables included donor risk index, age, race/ethnicity, Child-Turcotte-Pugh class, and tumor diameter. Among AFP levels ≥500 ng/mL at LT, 40.4% had AFP levels ≥1000, but no difference in post-LT survival or recurrence was seen between those patients with AFP levels < or ≥1000 ng/mL. Mandating AFP <500 ng/mL at LT for all patients, not only for those with initial AFP levels ≥1000 ng/mL, may improve post-LT outcomes and can be considered in future UNOS policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max L. Goldman
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Kali Zhou
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Jennifer L. Dodge
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA,Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Francis Yao
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Neil Mehta
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
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Li JH, Chen T, Xing H, Li RD, Shen CH, Zhang QB, Tao YF, Wang ZX. The AGH score is a predictor of disease-free survival and targeted therapy efficacy after liver transplantation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int 2022; 22:245-252. [PMID: 35534342 DOI: 10.1016/j.hbpd.2022.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver transplantation (LT) is the "cure" therapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, some patients encounter HCC recurrence after LT. Unfortunately, there is no effective methods to identify the LT patients who have high risk of HCC recurrence and would benefit from adjuvant targeted therapy. The present study aimed to establish a scoring system to predict HCC recurrence of HCC patients after LT among the Chinese population, and to evaluate whether these patients are suitable for adjuvant targeted therapy. METHODS Clinical data of HCC patients who underwent LT from March 2015 to June 2019 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. RESULTS A total of 201 patients were included in the study. The multivariate Cox analysis suggested that preoperative alpha fetoprotein (AFP) > 200 µg/L (HR = 2.666, 95% CI: 1.515-4.690; P = 0.001), glutamyl transferase (GGT) > 96 U/L (HR = 1.807, 95% CI: 1.012-3.224; P = 0.045), and exceeding the Hangzhou criteria (HR = 2.129, 95% CI: 1.158-3.914; P = 0.015) were independent risk factors for poor disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with HCC who underwent LT. We established an AFP-GGT-Hangzhou (AGH) scoring system based on these factors, and divided cases into high-, moderate-, and low-risk groups. The differences in overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates among the three groups were significant (P < 0.05). The efficacy of the AGH scoring system to predict DFS was better than that of the Hangzhou criteria, UCSF criteria, Milan criteria, and TNM stage. Only in the high-risk group, we found that lenvatinib significantly improved prognosis compared with that of the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The AGH scoring system provides a convenient and effective way to predict HCC recurrence after LT in HCC patients in China. Patients with a high-risk AGH score may benefit from lenvatinib adjuvant therapy after LT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Hua Li
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Urumqi Road(M), Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Tuo Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Urumqi Road(M), Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Hao Xing
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Urumqi Road(M), Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Rui-Dong Li
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Urumqi Road(M), Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Cong-Huan Shen
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Urumqi Road(M), Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Quan-Bao Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Urumqi Road(M), Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Yi-Feng Tao
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Urumqi Road(M), Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Zheng-Xin Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Urumqi Road(M), Shanghai 200040, China.
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Seehofer D, Petrowsky H, Schneeberger S, Vibert E, Ricke J, Sapisochin G, Nault JC, Berg T. Patient Selection for Downstaging of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Prior to Liver Transplantation—Adjusting the Odds? Transpl Int 2022; 35:10333. [PMID: 35529597 PMCID: PMC9069348 DOI: 10.3389/ti.2022.10333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Background and Aims: Morphometric features such as the Milan criteria serve as standard criteria for liver transplantation (LT) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Since it has been recognized that these criteria are too restrictive and do not adequately display the tumor biology, additional selection parameters are emerging. Methods: Concise review of the current literature on patient selection for downstaging and LT for HCC outside the Milan criteria. Results: The major task in patients outside the Milan criteria is the need for higher granularity with patient selection, since the benefit through LT is not uniform. The recent literature clearly shows that beneath tumor size and number, additional selection parameters are useful in the process of patient selection for and during downstaging. For initial patient selection, the alpha fetoprotein (AFP) level adds additional information to the size and number of HCC nodules concerning the chance of successful downstaging and LT. This effect is quantifiable using newer selection tools like the WE (West-Eastern) downstaging criteria or the Metroticket 2.0 criteria. Also an initial PET-scan and/or tumor biopsy can be helpful, especially in the high risk group of patients outside the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) criteria. After this entry selection, the clinical course during downstaging procedures concerning the tumor and the AFP response is of paramount importance and serves as an additional final selection tool. Conclusion: Selection criteria for liver transplantation in HCC patients are becoming more and more sophisticated, but are still imperfect. The implementation of molecular knowledge will hopefully support a more specific risk prediction for HCC patients in the future, but do not provide a profound basis for clinical decision-making at present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Seehofer
- Department of Visceral, Transplant, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital, Leipzig, Germany
- *Correspondence: Daniel Seehofer,
| | - Henrik Petrowsky
- Swiss HPB and Transplantation Center, Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Schneeberger
- Department of Visceral, Transplantation and Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Eric Vibert
- Centre Hépato-Biliaire, Hôpital Paul Brousse, Villejuif, France
| | - Jens Ricke
- Department of Radiology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Gonzalo Sapisochin
- Ajmera Transplant Program and HPB Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Toronto General Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jean-Charles Nault
- Service d’Hépatologie, Hôpital Avicenne, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris-Seine-Saint-Denis, Université Paris Nord, Paris, France
- INSERM UMR 1138 Functional Genomics of Solid Tumors Laboratory, Paris, France
| | - Thomas Berg
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Medicine II, Leipzig University Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
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Early Impact of MMaT-3 Policy on Liver Transplant Waitlist Outcomes for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Transplant Direct 2022; 8:e1313. [PMID: 35434283 PMCID: PMC9005245 DOI: 10.1097/txd.0000000000001313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
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Nahon P, Aubé C, Moga L, Chalaye J, Guiu B, Luciani A, Rode A, Ronot M, Seror O, Soussan M, Sutter O, Bourlière M, Bureau C, de Lédinghen V, Ganne-Carrié N. Non-invasive diagnosis and follow-up of primary malignant liver tumours. Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol 2022; 46:101766. [PMID: 34332137 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinre.2021.101766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Among a wide range of malignant liver tumours, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) developed on a background of cirrhosis represents the most frequent clinical situation. In this setting, HCC is one of the rare solid tumours for which histological confirmation is not mandatory. The convergence of multiple arguments obtained by non-invasive parameters using radiological findings allows to avoid liver biopsy in a large proportion of patients when a diagnosis of underlying cirrhosis is ascertained. Conversely, in case of atypical presentation or in order to exclude other rare malignant tumours mostly developed in the absence of cirrhosis, liver biopsy will then be essential. Based on typical radiological patterns described by contrast-enhanced imaging, numerous clinical guidelines have endorsed non-invasive diagnosis, staging and monitoring of HCC patients under treatment since 20 years. These algorithms have evolved over the years, taking into account progress in radiological technology and advances in curative or palliative procedures. Large cohort studies have also helped to refine diagnostic criteria and prognostication in the setting of complex therapeutic strategy. Unsupervised multi-analysis approaches both at the biological and radiological levels will in the future enrich the panel of non-invasive markers useful in clinical practice to manage HCC and other malignant tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Nahon
- Service d'hépatologie, Hôpital Avicenne, APHP, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Bobigny; INSERM UMR 1138, Centre de recherche des Cordeliers, Université de Paris
| | | | - Lucile Moga
- Service d'Hépatologie, Hôpital Beaujon, APHP, Clichy
| | - Julia Chalaye
- Service de médecine nucléaire, Hôpital Henri-Mondor, APHP, Créteil
| | - Boris Guiu
- Département de radiologie, Hôpital Saint-Eloi, CHU Angers
| | - Alain Luciani
- Service d'imagerie médicale, Hôpital Henri-Mondor, APHP, Créteil
| | - Agnès Rode
- Service d'imagerie médicale, Hôpital de la Croix Rousse, Hospices Civiles de Lyon, Lyon
| | - Maxime Ronot
- Service d'imagerie médicale, Hôpital Beaujon, APHP, Clichy
| | - Olivier Seror
- INSERM UMR 1138, Centre de recherche des Cordeliers, Université de Paris; Département de Radiologie Interventionnelle, Hôpital Avicenne, APHP, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Bobigny
| | - Michael Soussan
- Service de médecine nucléaire, Hôpital Avicenne, APHP, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Bobigny
| | - Olivier Sutter
- Département de Radiologie Interventionnelle, Hôpital Avicenne, APHP, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Bobigny
| | - Marc Bourlière
- Service d'hépato-gastroentérologie, Hôpital Saint Joseph, Marseille
| | | | - Victor de Lédinghen
- Service d'Hépatologie, CHU Bordeaux, Pessac & INSERM U1053, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux
| | - Nathalie Ganne-Carrié
- Service d'hépatologie, Hôpital Avicenne, APHP, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Bobigny; INSERM UMR 1138, Centre de recherche des Cordeliers, Université de Paris.
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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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Natu A, Singh A, Gupta S. Hepatocellular carcinoma: Understanding molecular mechanisms for defining potential clinical modalities. World J Hepatol 2021; 13:1568-1583. [PMID: 34904030 PMCID: PMC8637668 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v13.i11.1568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is the sixth most commonly occurring cancer and costs millions of lives per year. The diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has relied on scanning techniques and serum-based markers such as α-fetoprotein. These measures have limitations due to their detection limits and asymptomatic conditions during the early stages, resulting in late-stage cancer diagnosis where targeted chemotherapy or systemic treatment with sorafenib is offered. However, the aid of conventional therapy for patients in the advanced stage of HCC has limited outcomes. Thus, it is essential to seek a new treatment strategy and improve the diagnostic techniques to manage the disease. Researchers have used the omics profile of HCC patients for sub-classification of tissues into different groups, which has helped us with prognosis. Despite these efforts, a promising target for treatment has not been identified. The hurdle in this situation is genetic and epigenetic variations in the tumor, leading to disparities in response to treatment. Understanding reversible epigenetic changes along with clinical traits help to define new markers for patient categorization and design personalized therapy. Many clinical trials of inhibitors of epigenetic modifiers (also known as epi-drugs) are in progress. Epi-drugs like azacytidine or belinostat are already approved for other cancer treatments. Furthermore, epigenetic changes have also been observed in drug-resistant HCC tumors. In such cases, combinatorial treatment of epi-drugs with systemic therapy or trans-arterial chemoembolization might re-sensitize resistant cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhiram Natu
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Biology Group, Gupta Laboratory, Cancer Research Institute, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai 410210, Maharashtra, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai 400085, Maharashtra, India
| | - Anjali Singh
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Biology Group, Gupta Laboratory, Cancer Research Institute, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai 410210, Maharashtra, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai 400085, Maharashtra, India
| | - Sanjay Gupta
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Biology Group, Gupta Laboratory, Cancer Research Institute, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai 410210, Maharashtra, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai 400085, Maharashtra, India
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14
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Orci LA, Combescure C, Fink M, Oldani G, Compagnon P, Andres A, Berney T, Toso C. Predicting recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation using a novel model that incorporates tumor and donor-related factors. Transpl Int 2021; 34:2875-2886. [PMID: 34784081 DOI: 10.1111/tri.14161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Evidence suggests that liver graft quality impacts on posttransplant recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). As of today, selection criteria only use variables related to tumor characteristics. Within the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, we identified patients with HCC who underwent liver transplantation between 2004 and 2016 (development cohort, n = 10 887). Based on tumor recurrence rates, we fitted a competing-risk regression incorporating tumor- and donor-related factors, and we developed a prognostic score. Results were validated both internally and externally in the Australia and New Zealand Liver Transplant Registry. Total tumor diameter (subhazard ratio [sub-HR] 1.52 [1.28-1.81]), alpha-feto protein (sub-HR 1.27 [1.23-1.32], recipient male gender (sub-HR 1.43 [1.18-1.74]), elevated donor body mass index (sub-HR 1.26 [1.01-1.58]), and shared graft allocation policy (sub-HR 1.20 [1.01-1.43]) were independently associated with tumor recurrence. We next developed the Darlica score (sub-HR 2.72 [2.41-3.08] P < 0.001) that allows identifying risky combinations between a given donor and a given recipient. Results were validated internally (n = 3 629) and externally in the Australia and New Zealand Liver Transplant Registry (n = 370). The current score is based on variables that are readily available at the time of graft offer. It allows identifying hazardous donor-recipient combinations in terms of risk of tumor recurrence and overall survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo A Orci
- Division of Abdominal and Transplantation Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.,Faculty of Medicine, Hepato-pancreato-biliary Centre, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Michael Fink
- Department of Surgery, Austin Health, Medicine Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Graziano Oldani
- Division of Abdominal and Transplantation Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.,Faculty of Medicine, Hepato-pancreato-biliary Centre, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Philippe Compagnon
- Division of Abdominal and Transplantation Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.,Faculty of Medicine, Hepato-pancreato-biliary Centre, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Axel Andres
- Division of Abdominal and Transplantation Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.,Faculty of Medicine, Hepato-pancreato-biliary Centre, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Thierry Berney
- Division of Abdominal and Transplantation Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.,Faculty of Medicine, Hepato-pancreato-biliary Centre, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Christian Toso
- Division of Abdominal and Transplantation Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.,Faculty of Medicine, Hepato-pancreato-biliary Centre, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
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15
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Pelizzaro F, Gambato M, Gringeri E, Vitale A, Cillo U, Farinati F, Burra P, Russo FP. Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence after Liver Transplantation. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13194882. [PMID: 34638365 PMCID: PMC8508053 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13194882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an increasingly important indication for liver transplantation (LT) worldwide. However, LT in the setting of liver cancer is burdened by the risk of tumor recurrence. The prognosis of patients with post-LT HCC recurrence is still very poor and several areas of uncertainty remain in the management of these patients. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive evaluation of available evidence regarding the management of HCC recurrence after LT, starting from the pre- and post-transplant stratification criteria and encompassing post-LT surveillance, preventive strategies and treatment. Much work has been done in the last several years but further effort is still needed in order to improve the outcome of these patients. Abstract Recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after liver transplantation (LT), occurring in 10–15% of cases, is a major concern. A lot of work has been done in order to refine the selection of LT candidates with HCC and to improve the outcome of patients with recurrence. Despite this, the prognosis of these patients remains poor, partly due to the several areas of uncertainty in their management. Even if surveillance for HCC recurrence is crucial for early detection, there is currently no evidence to support a specific and cost-effective post-LT surveillance strategy. Concerning preventive measures, consensus on the best immunosuppressive drugs has not been reached and not enough data to support adjuvant therapy are present. Several therapeutic approaches (surgical, locoregional and systemic treatments) are available in case of recurrence, but there are still few data in the post-LT setting. Moreover, the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors is controversial in transplant recipients considered the risk of rejection. In this paper, the available evidence on the management of HCC recurrence after LT is comprehensively reviewed, considering pre- and post-transplant risk stratification, post-transplant surveillance, preventive strategies and treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Pelizzaro
- Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy; (F.P.); (M.G.); (F.F.); (P.B.)
| | - Martina Gambato
- Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy; (F.P.); (M.G.); (F.F.); (P.B.)
- Multivisceral Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Enrico Gringeri
- Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy; (E.G.); (A.V.); (U.C.)
| | - Alessandro Vitale
- Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy; (E.G.); (A.V.); (U.C.)
| | - Umberto Cillo
- Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy; (E.G.); (A.V.); (U.C.)
| | - Fabio Farinati
- Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy; (F.P.); (M.G.); (F.F.); (P.B.)
| | - Patrizia Burra
- Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy; (F.P.); (M.G.); (F.F.); (P.B.)
- Multivisceral Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Francesco Paolo Russo
- Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy; (F.P.); (M.G.); (F.F.); (P.B.)
- Multivisceral Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
- Correspondence:
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16
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Yacoub JH, Hsu CC, Fishbein TM, Mauro D, Moon A, He AR, Bashir MR, Burke LMB. Therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma: overview, clinical indications, and comparative outcome evaluation-part one: curative intention. Abdom Radiol (NY) 2021; 46:3528-3539. [PMID: 33835223 DOI: 10.1007/s00261-021-03069-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) offers unique management challenges as it commonly occurs in the setting of underlying chronic liver disease. The management of HCC is directed primarily by the clinical stage. The most commonly used staging system is the Barcelona-Clinic Liver Cancer system, which considers tumor burden based on imaging, liver function and the patient's performance status. Early-stage HCC can be managed with therapies of curative intent including surgical resection, liver transplantation, and ablative therapies. This manuscript reviews the various treatment options for HCC with a curative intent, such as locablative therapy types, surgical resection, and transplant. Indications, contraindications and outcomes of the various treatment options are reviewed. Multiple concepts relating to liver transplant are discussed including Milan criteria, OPTN policy, MELD exception points, downstaging to transplant and bridging to transplant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph H Yacoub
- Department of Radiology, Medstar Georgetown University Hospital, Georgetown University, 3800 Reservoir Rd, NW, Suite CG201, Washington DC, 20007, USA.
| | - Christine C Hsu
- Medstar Georgetown Transplant Institute, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA
| | - Thomas M Fishbein
- Medstar Georgetown Transplant Institute, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA
| | - David Mauro
- Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA
| | - Andrew Moon
- Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA
| | - Aiwu R He
- Department of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA
| | - Mustafa R Bashir
- Department of Radiology and Medicine (Gastroenterology), Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Center for Advanced Magnetic Resonance Development, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Lauren M B Burke
- Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA
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Abstract
LDLT covers all standard indications for liver transplantation, and the results are similar or even better than for standard DDLT. Due to the donor shortage and long waiting time, LDLT has become a relevant option for patients with liver tumors, provided the expected five-year survival rate is comparable to that of patients receiving a DDLT. Nowadays, LDLT offers the possibility to extend the standard morphometric selection by considering the biological parameters. In the setting of LDLT, we are not only faced with surgical morbidity in the donor, but long-term non-medical problems like psychological complications and financial burden also have to be considered. On the other hand, the benefits to the donor are mainly social and psychological. In LDLT, the donor's altruism is the fundamental ethical principle and it is based on the principles of (1) beneficence (doing good), (2) non-maleficence (avoiding harm), (3) respect for autonomy, and (4) respect for justice (promoting fairness). On top of that, the concept of double equipoise of living organ donation evaluates the relationship between the recipient's need, the donor's risk, and the recipient's outcome. It considers each donor-recipient pair as a unit, analyzing whether the specific recipient's benefit justifies the specific donor's risk in particular oncologic indications. In this light, it is essential to seek adequate informed consent focused on risk, benefits and outcome benefits of both donor and recipient supported by an independent living donor advocate. Finally, the transplant team must protect donors from donation if harm does not justify the expected benefit to the recipient.
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Survival Analysis after Living Donor Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Single Center Cohort Study. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10050446. [PMID: 34065172 PMCID: PMC8160725 DOI: 10.3390/biology10050446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Background: Living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been used as a curative treatment option for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) because of a shortage of deceased donors. This study aimed to investigate survival outcomes after LDLT for HCC. Method: This study included 359 patients undergoing LDLT for HCC. We analyzed overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) and the prognostic factors related to them. Results: The 5-year OS and RFS rates of patients within the Milan criteria (WM) were better than those of patients beyond the Milan criteria (BM) (87.3% vs. 64.1% and 87.6% vs. 57.8%, respectively, both p < 0.05). Alpha-fetoprotein level (AFP) > 400 ng/mL (hazard ratio (HR), 2.07; 95% CI, 1.28–3.36; p < 0.05) and HCC of BM (HR, 2.61; 95% CI, 1.60–4.26; p < 0.05) at immediate pretransplant were independent risk factors of OS. AFP > 400 ng/mL (HR, 2.16; 95% CI, 1.34–3.49; p < 0.05) and HCC of BM (HR, 3.01; 95% CI, 1.81–5.01; p < 0.05) were also independent risk factors of RFS. In pathologic findings of explanted liver, tumor size, Edmondson–Steiner grade III–IV, and microvascular invasion were independent risk factors of both OS and RFS (p < 0.05). Conclusions: BM and AFP > 400 ng/mL at immediate pretransplant are unfavorable predictors of survival outcomes after LDLT for HCC.
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Frankul L, Frenette C. Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Downstaging to Liver Transplantation as Curative Therapy. J Clin Transl Hepatol 2021; 9:220-226. [PMID: 34007804 PMCID: PMC8111105 DOI: 10.14218/jcth.2020.00037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [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: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 10/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks among the leading cancer-related causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Downstaging of HCC has prevailed as a key method to curative therapy for patients who present with unresectable HCC outside of the listing criteria for liver transplantation (LT). Even though LT paves the way to lifesaving curative therapy for HCC, perpetually severe organ shortage limits its broader application. Debate over the optimal protocol and assessment of response to downstaging treatment has fueled immense research activity and is pushing the boundaries of LT candidate selection criteria. The implicit obligation of refining downstaging protocol is to ensure the maximization of the transplant survival benefit by taking into account the waitlist life expectancy. In the following review, we critically discuss strategies to best optimize downstaging HCC to LT on the basis of existing literature.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Catherine Frenette
- Correspondence to: Catherine Frenette, Scripps Center for Organ Transplant, Scripps Clinic/Green Hospital, 10666 N. Torrey Pines Rd N200, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2245-8173 Tel: +1-858-554-4310, Fax: +1-858-554-3009, E-mail:
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20
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Kim K, Kim TH, Kim TH, Seong J. Efficacy of Local Therapy for Oligometastatic Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Propensity Score Matched Analysis. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2021; 8:35-44. [PMID: 33604314 PMCID: PMC7886258 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s290197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose With respect to various solid cancers, patients with oligometastasis may benefit from local therapy. However, this approach is not widely accepted for hepatocellular carcinoma. This study investigated the efficacy of local therapy for oligometastatic lesions in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Patients and Methods The study included 69 hepatocellular carcinoma patients presenting with oligometastasis to the lung. Characteristics of the patients and treatment options for metastatic lesions were reviewed, and a survival analysis was performed. After propensity score matching, overall survival and progression-free survival were calculated from the time of pulmonary metastasis detection. Factors predicting prognosis were analyzed using a multivariate Cox regression analysis. Results After propensity score matching, 58 patients with Child-Pugh grade A disease were selected. Among them, 22 patients were treated with systemic therapy alone while 36 patients received local therapy or a combination of local and systemic therapies for metastatic lesions. Survival rates were higher in patients receiving local therapy than in those receiving systemic therapy (2-year overall survival rate, 66.6 vs 31.2%, p<0.001; 2-year progression-free survival rate, 47.0 vs 10.6%, p=0.005). In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, alpha-fetoprotein levels less than 400 ng/mL and the use of local therapy for metastatic lesions were found to be significant favorable prognostic factors. Conclusion Local therapy for metastatic lesions improved the oncologic outcomes of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma with pulmonary oligometastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangpyo Kim
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Hyung Kim
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Hyun Kim
- Department of Statistics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jinsil Seong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Schnitzbauer AA, Filmann N, Adam R, Bachellier P, Bechstein WO, Becker T, Bhoori S, Bilbao I, Brockmann J, Burra P, Chazoullières O, Cillo U, Colledan M, Duvoux C, Ganten TM, Gugenheim J, Heise M, van Hoek B, Jamieson N, de Jong KP, Klein CG, Klempnauer J, Kneteman N, Lerut J, Mäkisalo H, Mazzaferro V, Mirza DF, Nadalin S, Neuhaus P, Pageaux GP, Pinna AD, Pirenne J, Pratschke J, Powel J, Rentsch M, Rizell M, Rossi G, Rostaing L, Roy A, Scholz T, Settmacher U, Soliman T, Strasser S, Söderdahl G, Troisi RI, Turrión VS, Schlitt HJ, Geissler EK. mTOR Inhibition Is Most Beneficial After Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients With Active Tumors. Ann Surg 2020; 272:855-862. [PMID: 32889867 DOI: 10.1097/sla.0000000000004280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the survival benefit of sirolimus in patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (exploratory analysis of the SiLVER-trial). SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND DATA Patients receiving LT) for HCC are at a high risk for tumor recurrence. Calcineurin inhibitors have shown evidence to promote cancer growth, whereas mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors like sirolimus have anticancer effects. In the SiLVER-trial (Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT00355862), the effect of sirolimus on the recurrence of HCC after LT was investigated in a prospective randomized trial. Although the primary endpoint of improved disease-free survival (DFS) with sirolimus was not met, outcomes were improved for patients in the sirolimus-treatment arm in the first 3 to 5 years. To learn more about the key variables, a multivariate analysis was performed on the SiLVER-trial data. PATIENTS AND METHODS Data from 508 patients of the intention-to-treat analysis were included in exploratory univariate and multivariate models for overall survival (OS), DFS and a competing risk analysis for HCC recurrence. RESULTS Sirolimus use for ≥3 months after LT for HCC independently reduced the hazard for death in the multivariate analysis [hazard ratio (HR): 0.7 (95% confidence interval, CI: 0.52-0.96, P = 0.02). Most strikingly, patients with an alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) ≥10 ng/mL and having used sirolimus for ≥3 months, benefited most with regard to OS, DFS, and HCC-recurrence (HR: 0.49-0.59, P = 0.0079-0.0245). CONCLUSIONS mTOR-inhibitor treatment with sirolimus for ≥3 months improves outcomes in LT for HCC, especially in patients with AFP-evidence of higher tumor activity, advocating particularly for mTOR inhibitor use in this subgroup of patients. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION EudraCT: 2005-005362-36 CLINICALTRIALS.GOV:: NCT00355862.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas A Schnitzbauer
- Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Klinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral- und Transplantationschirurgie, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Natalie Filmann
- Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Institut für Biostatistik und Mathematisches Modellierung, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - René Adam
- Hôpital Paul Brousse, Centre Hépato Biliaire, Paris, France
| | - Philippe Bachellier
- Les Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Hôpital de Hautepierre, Service de Chirurgie Générale, Hépatique, Endocrinienne, et Transplantation, Strasbourg, France
| | - Wolf O Bechstein
- Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Klinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral- und Transplantationschirurgie, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Thomas Becker
- Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein - Campus Kiel, Klinik für Allgemeine Chirurgie, Viszeral-, Thorax, Transplantations- und Kinderchirurgie, Kiel, Germany
| | - Sherrie Bhoori
- Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, National Cancer Institute Milan, Department of Surgery, Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Cancer Unit, Milano, Italy
| | - Itxarone Bilbao
- Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Servicio de Cirugía General, Unidad de Trasplante Hepatico, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jens Brockmann
- Universitätsklinikum Münster, Klinik für Allgemein- und ViszeralchirurgieMünster, Germany
| | - Patrizia Burra
- Università degli Studi di Padova, Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche, Oncologiche e Gastroenterologiche (DiSCOG), Padova, Italy
| | - Olivier Chazoullières
- Hôpital Saint Antoine, Federation d'Hepato-Gastro-Enterologie, Service d'Hepatologie, Paris, France
| | - Umberto Cillo
- Università di Padova, Azienda Ospedaliera di Padova, Chirurgia Epatobiliare e Trapianto Epatico, Padova, Italy
| | - Michele Colledan
- Azienda Ospedaliera Papa Giovanni XXIII, Chirurgia terza e Chirurgia Toracica, Bergamo (BG), Italy
| | - Christoph Duvoux
- Université Paris-Est Créteil Val-de-Marne, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Henri-Mondor, Service d'Hepatologie et de Gastroenterologie, Unite d'Hepatologie et de Transplantation Hepatique, Paris, France
| | - Tom M Ganten
- Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Fürst Stirum Klinik Bruchsal, Bruchsal, Germany
| | - Jean Gugenheim
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Hôpital ARCHET 2, Service de Chirurgie Digestive, Centre de Transplantation Hépatique, Nice Cedex, France
| | - Michael Heise
- Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Klinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral- und Transplantationschirurgie, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Bart van Hoek
- Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Dept. of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Neville Jamieson
- Cambridge University Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Department of Surgery, Hills Road, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Koert P de Jong
- University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Department of Surgery, Div. of Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary Surgery & Liver Transplantation, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Christian G Klein
- Universitätsklinikum Essen, Klinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral- und Transplantationschirurgie, Essen, Germany
| | - Jürgen Klempnauer
- Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Klinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral- und Transplantationschirurgie, Hannover, Germany
| | - Norman Kneteman
- University of Alberta, Alberta Health Services Liver Transplant Program, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jan Lerut
- Institute for Experimental and Clinical Research (IREC), Université catholique Louvain(UCL), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Heikki Mäkisalo
- Helsinki University Central Hospital, Division of Transplantation and Liver Surgery, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Vincenzo Mazzaferro
- Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, National Cancer Institute Milan, Department of Surgery, Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Cancer Unit, Milano, Italy
| | - Darius F Mirza
- University Hospitals Birmingham, NHS Foundation Trust, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Liver and Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Unit, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Silvio Nadalin
- Klinikum der Universität Tübingen, Klinik für Allgemeine, Viszeral- und Transplantationschirurgie, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Peter Neuhaus
- Charité Campus Virchow Klinikum, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Klinik für Allgemein-, Visceral- und Transplantationschirurgie, Berlin, Germany
| | - George-Philippe Pageaux
- CHRU de Montpellier, APEMAD, Hôpital Saint-Eloi, Service d'Hepato-Gastroentérologie et Transplantation Hepatique, Cedex 5, France
| | - Antonio D Pinna
- Universita di Bologna, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Chirurgia Generale e dei Trapianti, Bologna, Italy
| | - Jaques Pirenne
- UZ Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, Abdominale Transplantatiechirurgie, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Johann Pratschke
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin
| | - James Powel
- Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian, Hepatic-Pancreatico-Biliary Surgical Services and Edinburgh Transplant Unit, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Markus Rentsch
- Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximillians-Universität München-Großhadern, current affiliation: Klinikum Ingolstadt, Klinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral- und Thoraxchirurgie, Ingolstadt, Germany
| | - Magnus Rizell
- Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Giorgio Rossi
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico IRCCS di Milano, Centro Trapianti Fegato, Pad Zonda I piano, Milano, Italy
| | - Lionel Rostaing
- Department of Nephrology, Hemodialysis, Apheresis and Transplantation, Grenoble-Alpes University Hospital Center, Avenue du Maquis du Grésivaudan, La Tronche, France
| | - André Roy
- Hopital St Luc, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université Montréal (CHUM), Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Unit, Principal Pavillion, 1058 Rue St Denis Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Tim Scholz
- Uppsala University Hospital, Deptartment for Transplant Surgery, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Utz Settmacher
- Universitätsklinikum Jena, Klinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral- und Gefässchirurgie, Jena, Germany
| | - Thomas Soliman
- Medizinische Universität Wien, AKH- Wien, Universitätsklinik für Chirurgie, Abteilung für Transplantation, Vienna, Austria
| | - Simone Strasser
- Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, AW Morrow Gastroenterology, and Liver Centre and Liver Transplant Unit, Camperdown, Sydney, Australia
| | - Gunnar Söderdahl
- Karolinska University Hospital, Department of Transplantation Surgery, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Roberto I Troisi
- Ghent University Hospital and Medical School, Hepato- Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Victor Sánchez Turrión
- Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Departamento de Cirugía, Unidad de Trasplante Hepático, Calle Manuel de Falla 1, Madrid, Spain
| | - Hans J Schlitt
- University Hospital Regensburg, Department of Surgery, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Edward K Geissler
- University Hospital Regensburg, Department of Surgery and Section of Experimental Surgery, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, Regensburg, Germany.,Division of Tumor Therapy, Fraunhofer Institute of Experimental Medicine and Toxicology, Regensburg, Germany
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22
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Alqahtani SA, Sanai FM, Alolayan A, Abaalkhail F, Alsuhaibani H, Hassanain M, Alhazzani W, Alsuhaibani A, Algarni A, Forner A, Finn RS, Al-hamoudi WK. Saudi Association for the Study of Liver diseases and Transplantation practice guidelines on the diagnosis and management of hepatocellular carcinoma. Saudi J Gastroenterol 2020; 26:S1-S40. [PMID: 33078723 PMCID: PMC7768980 DOI: 10.4103/sjg.sjg_477_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Saleh A. Alqahtani
- Liver Transplant Centre, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Faisal M. Sanai
- Liver Disease Research Center, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology Unit, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ashwaq Alolayan
- Adult Medical Oncology, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Faisal Abaalkhail
- Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology Section, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- College of Medicine, Al Faisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hamad Alsuhaibani
- Department of Radiology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mazen Hassanain
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States
| | - Waleed Alhazzani
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Abdullah Alsuhaibani
- Department of Radiology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah Algarni
- Department of Oncology, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Alejandro Forner
- Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Group, Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBEREHD, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Richard S Finn
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California,United States
| | - Waleed K. Al-hamoudi
- Liver Transplant Centre, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Liver Disease Research Center, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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23
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Kim S, Moon D, Park G, Lee S, Hwang S, Ahn C, Kim K, Ha T, Song G, Jung D, Yoon Y, Kim H. Preoperative prediction score of hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence in living donor liver transplantation: Validation of SNAPP score developed at Asan Medical Center. Am J Transplant 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/ajt.16227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Seok‐Hwan Kim
- Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation Department of Surgery Asan Medical Center University of Ulsan College of Medicine Seoul Korea
- Department of Surgery Chungnam National University HospitalChungnam National University School of Medicine Daejeon Korea
| | - Deok‐Bog Moon
- Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation Department of Surgery Asan Medical Center University of Ulsan College of Medicine Seoul Korea
| | - Gil‐Chun Park
- Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation Department of Surgery Asan Medical Center University of Ulsan College of Medicine Seoul Korea
| | - Sung‐Gyu Lee
- Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation Department of Surgery Asan Medical Center University of Ulsan College of Medicine Seoul Korea
| | - Shin Hwang
- Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation Department of Surgery Asan Medical Center University of Ulsan College of Medicine Seoul Korea
| | - Chul‐Soo Ahn
- Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation Department of Surgery Asan Medical Center University of Ulsan College of Medicine Seoul Korea
| | - Ki‐Hun Kim
- Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation Department of Surgery Asan Medical Center University of Ulsan College of Medicine Seoul Korea
| | - Tae‐Yong Ha
- Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation Department of Surgery Asan Medical Center University of Ulsan College of Medicine Seoul Korea
| | - Gi‐Won Song
- Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation Department of Surgery Asan Medical Center University of Ulsan College of Medicine Seoul Korea
| | - Dong‐Hwan Jung
- Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation Department of Surgery Asan Medical Center University of Ulsan College of Medicine Seoul Korea
| | - Young‐In Yoon
- Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation Department of Surgery Asan Medical Center University of Ulsan College of Medicine Seoul Korea
| | - Hwa‐Jung Kim
- Department of Preventive Medicine University of Ulsan College of Medicine Seoul Korea
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24
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Özdemir F, Baskiran A. The Importance of AFP in Liver Transplantation for HCC. J Gastrointest Cancer 2020; 51:1127-1132. [DOI: 10.1007/s12029-020-00486-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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25
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Song BG, Sinn DH, Kang W, Gwak GY, Paik YH, Choi MS, Lee JH, Koh KC, Paik SW, Kim JM, Joh JW, Choi GS. Changes in Tumor Markers and Their Implications in Selecting Liver Transplantation for Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Transplant Proc 2020; 52:881-888. [PMID: 32115240 DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2020.01.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM It has been suggested that tumor markers can provide additional information over tumor size and number-based liver transplantation (LT) criteria. We aimed to assess if changes in tumor markers are associated with the risk of tumor recurrence after LT for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who received loco-regional therapies (LRTs). METHODS A total of 129 patients who received LT with pre-LT LRTs for HCC were analyzed. Milan criteria and tumor markers, alpha-fetoprotein, and protein induced by vitamin K antagonist II, at diagnosis and at transplant were assessed. The primary outcome was tumor recurrence. RESULTS When patients were stratified by radiologic criteria, cumulative recurrence rates at 3 years for patients who were not down-staged (outside Milan to outside Milan), progressed (within Milan to outside Milan), down-staged (outside Milan to within Milan), and bridged (within Milan to within Milan) were 66.7%, 58.3%, 18.7%, and 8.5%, respectively (P < .001). Among patients who were transplanted within Milan criteria at transplant (n = 113), cumulative recurrence rates at 3 years were highest for those with persistently high tumor markers (high to high, 21.7%), followed by those with increase in tumor markers (low to high, 11.1%), those with normalization of tumor markers (high to low, 5.6%), and those with persistently low tumor markers (low to low, 0%), respectively, after LRTs (P = .035). CONCLUSIONS Changes of tumor markers can provide additional information on the risk of recurrence after LT among HCC patients who received LRTs, indicating that they could be used to refine current LT selection criteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byeong Geun Song
- Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Dong Hyun Sinn
- Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Wonseok Kang
- Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Geum-Youn Gwak
- Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yong-Han Paik
- Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Moon Seok Choi
- Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Joon Hyeok Lee
- Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Kwang Cheol Koh
- Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Seung Woon Paik
- Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jong Man Kim
- Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jae-Won Joh
- Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Gyu-Seong Choi
- Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
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26
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Wang Q, Hu Y, Jiang N, Wang J, Yu M, Zhuang X. Preparation of Aptamer Responsive DNA Functionalized Hydrogels for the Sensitive Detection of α-Fetoprotein Using SERS Method. Bioconjug Chem 2020; 31:813-820. [PMID: 31977189 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.9b00874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is one of the three major cancers, has attracted growing attention due to its high mortality, health care cost, and circumscribed therapeutic methods. Hence, the development of a fast, accurate, and flexible method to detect α-fetoprotein (AFP), the specific marker of HCC, is significant for diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Here, we constructed a novel SERS biosensing platform combining the target-responsive DNA hydrogel for the sensitive detection of AFP. The linker strand in DNA hydrogel is an aptamer that can specifically recognize AFP and accurately control the release of immunoglobulin G (IgG) encapsulated in hydrogel. In the presence of AFP, the hydrogels were disentangled and the IgG was released. Thereafter, the released IgG was captured by SERS probes and biofunctional magnetic beads through formation of sandwich-like structures, resulting in the signal of Raman tags decreasing in the supernatant after magnetic separation. Due to the ultrahigh sensitivity of the SERS biosensor, the proposed method has a wide detection linear range (50 pg/mL to 0.5 μg/mL) and a detection limit down to 50 pg/mL. Moreover, the sequence of the linker strand in the DNA hydrogel can be specifically encoded into a new aptamer that responds to other cancer markers. This convenient and inexpensive detection method provides a new strategy for the detection of tumor markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Wang
- MOE & Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Spectral Analysis and Functional Probes, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, P R China
| | - Yongjun Hu
- MOE & Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Spectral Analysis and Functional Probes, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, P R China
| | - Ningjing Jiang
- MOE & Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Spectral Analysis and Functional Probes, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, P R China
| | - Junjie Wang
- MOE & Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Spectral Analysis and Functional Probes, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, P R China
| | - Meng Yu
- MOE & Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Spectral Analysis and Functional Probes, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, P R China
| | - Xiumei Zhuang
- MOE & Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Spectral Analysis and Functional Probes, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, P R China
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27
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Wu TH, Wang YC, Cheng CH, Lee CF, Wu TJ, Chou HS, Chan KM, Lee WC. Outcomes associated with the intention of loco-regional therapy prior to living donor liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastrointest Surg 2020; 12:17-27. [PMID: 31984121 PMCID: PMC6943093 DOI: 10.4240/wjgs.v12.i1.17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Revised: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Loco-regional therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) during the period awaiting liver transplantation (LT) appears to be a logical approach to reduce the risk of tumor progression and dropout in the waitlist. Living donor LT (LDLT) offers a flexible timing for transplantation providing timeframe for well preparation of transplantation.
AIM To investigate outcomes in relation to the intention of pre-transplantation loco-regional therapy in LDLT for HCC patients.
METHODS A total of 308 consecutive patients undergoing LDLTs for HCC between August 2004 and December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were grouped according to the intention of loco-regional therapy prior to LT, and outcomes of patients were analyzed and compared between groups.
RESULTS Overall, 38 patients (12.3%) were detected with HCC recurrence during the follow-up period after LDLT. Patients who were radiologically beyond the University of California at San Francisco criteria and received loco-regional therapy as down-staging therapy had significant inferior outcomes to other groups for both recurrence-free survival (RFS, P < 0.0005) and overall survival (P = 0.046). Moreover, patients with defined profound tumor necrosis (TN) by loco-regional therapy had a superior RFS (5-year of 93.8%) as compared with others (P = 0.010).
CONCLUSION LDLT features a flexible timely transplantation for patient with HCC. However, the loco-regional therapy prior to LDLT does not seem to provide benefit unless a certain effect in terms of profound TN is noted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsung-Han Wu
- Department of General Surgery and Chang Gung Transplantation Institute, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan 33305, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chao Wang
- Department of General Surgery and Chang Gung Transplantation Institute, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan 33305, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Hsien Cheng
- Department of General Surgery and Chang Gung Transplantation Institute, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan 33305, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Fang Lee
- Department of General Surgery and Chang Gung Transplantation Institute, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan 33305, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Jung Wu
- Department of General Surgery and Chang Gung Transplantation Institute, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan 33305, Taiwan
| | - Hong-Shiue Chou
- Department of General Surgery and Chang Gung Transplantation Institute, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan 33305, Taiwan
| | - Kun-Ming Chan
- Department of General Surgery and Chang Gung Transplantation Institute, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan 33305, Taiwan
- Department of Organs Transplantation Institute, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyun 33305, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Chen Lee
- Department of General Surgery and Chang Gung Transplantation Institute, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan 33305, Taiwan
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28
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Daily decrease of post-operative alpha-fetoprotein by 9% discriminates prognosis of HCC: A multicenter retrospective study. Aging (Albany NY) 2019; 11:11111-11123. [PMID: 31829979 PMCID: PMC6932889 DOI: 10.18632/aging.102513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Background: Mixed evidence challenges preoperative alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) as an independent prognostic factor for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after hepatectomy. Results: Daily post-operative decrease of AFP by 9% as compared to the preoperative level (A09) were selected as the Cut-off. The Kaplan-Meier curve showed that A09 was significantly different for OS (P=0.043) and RFS (P=0.03). A decrease in risk by 54% was observed for OS and 32% for RFS in the at-risk population (A09>9%). A better concordance was observed after adding A09 into TNM and BCLC staging systems. Moreover, a consistent concordance was observed in the internal (FDZS5:0.63; FDZS3:0.608) and external (FDZS5:0.85; FDZS3:0.762) validation cohorts, suggesting its prognostic value in HCC population with elevated AFP. Conclusions: Decrease in perioperative serum AFP rather than preoperative AFP is an independent prognostic factor for HCC patients after hepatectomy. Cut-off A09 significantly discriminates overall and recurrence-free survival and could be interpret into TNM and BCLC staging systems to improve the stratification power for HCC patients with elevated AFP. Methods: Kaplan-Meier curve depicted the differences of overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Nomogram and concordance were employed to evaluate the superiority of the current staging system.
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29
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Galle PR, Foerster F, Kudo M, Chan SL, Llovet JM, Qin S, Schelman WR, Chintharlapalli S, Abada PB, Sherman M, Zhu AX. Biology and significance of alpha-fetoprotein in hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver Int 2019; 39:2214-2229. [PMID: 31436873 DOI: 10.1111/liv.14223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 316] [Impact Index Per Article: 63.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common causes of cancer-related deaths globally due, in part, to the majority of patients being diagnosed with intermediate or advanced stage disease. Our increased understanding of the heterogeneous molecular pathogenesis of HCC has led to significant developments in novel targeted therapies. Despite these advances, there remains a high unmet need for new treatment options. HCC is a complex disease with multiple pathogenic mechanisms caused by a variety of risk factors, making it difficult to characterize with a single biomarker. In fact, numerous biomarkers have been studied in HCC, but alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) remains the most widely used and accepted serum marker since its discovery over 60 years ago. This review summarizes the most relevant studies associated with the regulation of AFP at the gene and protein levels; the pathophysiology of AFP as a pro-proliferative protein; and the correlation of AFP with molecular HCC subclasses, the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway and angiogenesis. Also described are the historical and current uses of AFP for screening and surveillance, diagnosis, its utility as a prognostic and predictive biomarker and its role as a tumour antigen in HCC. Taken together, these data demonstrate the relevance of AFP for patients with HCC and identify several remaining questions that will benefit from future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter R Galle
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Friedrich Foerster
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | | | | | - Josep M Llovet
- Translational Research in Hepatic Oncology, Liver Unit, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Mount Sinai Liver Cancer Program, Division of Liver Diseases, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA.,Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Shukui Qin
- Cancer Center of Bayi Hospital, Nanjing Chinese Medicine University, Nanjing, China
| | | | | | | | | | - Andrew X Zhu
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
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30
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Rosenblatt RE, Halazun KJ. Striving for decreased post-transplant hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence without excluding potentially curable patients: the utility of tumor biology. Hepatobiliary Surg Nutr 2019; 8:541-542. [PMID: 31673552 DOI: 10.21037/hbsn.2019.04.09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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31
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Grąt M, Krawczyk M, Stypułkowski J, Morawski M, Krasnodębski M, Wasilewicz M, Lewandowski Z, Grąt K, Patkowski W, Zieniewicz K. Prognostic Relevance of a Complete Pathologic Response in Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Ann Surg Oncol 2019; 26:4556-4565. [PMID: 31520204 PMCID: PMC6863942 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-019-07811-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A complete pathologic response (CPR) after neoadjuvant treatment is reported to be associated with an exceptionally low risk of recurrence after liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic role of CPR in liver transplantation for HCC. METHODS This retrospective cohort study was based on 222 HCC transplant recipients. Incidence of recurrence and survival at 5 years were the primary and secondary outcome measures, respectively. Competing risk analyses were applied to evaluate recurrence incidence and its predictors. Propensity score matching was performed to compare the outcomes for patients after neoadjuvant treatment with and without CPR. RESULTS Neoadjuvant treatment was performed for 127 patients, 32 of whom achieved CPR (25.2%). Comparison of baseline characteristics showed that the patients with CPR were at lowest baseline recurrence risk, followed by treatment-naïve patients and patients without CPR. Adjusted for potential confounders, CPR did not have any significant effects on tumor recurrence. No significant net reclassification improvement was noted after addition of CPR to existing criteria. Neoadjuvant treatment without CPR was associated with increased risk of recurrence in subgroups within the Milan criteria (p = 0.016), with alpha-fetoprotein concentration (AFP) model not exceeding 2 points (p = 0.021) and within the Warsaw criteria (p = 0.007) compared with treatment-naïve patients who were at risk similar to those with CPR. The 5-year incidences of recurrence in propensity score-matched patients with and without CPR were respectively 14.0% and 15.9% (p = 0.661), with corresponding survival rates of 73.2% and 67.4%, respectively (p = 0.329). CONCLUSIONS The findings showed that CPR is not independently associated with long-term outcomes after liver transplantation for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michał Grąt
- Department of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Marek Krawczyk
- Department of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jan Stypułkowski
- Department of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marcin Morawski
- Department of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Maciej Krasnodębski
- Department of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Michał Wasilewicz
- Hepatology and Internal Medicine Unit, Department of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Zbigniew Lewandowski
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Karolina Grąt
- Second Department of Clinical Radiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Waldemar Patkowski
- Department of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Zieniewicz
- Department of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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Xu X, Chen J, Wei Q, Liu ZK, Yang Z, Zhang M, Wang GY, Gao J, Yang ZX, Guo WY, Xing TH, Shao Z, Xie QF, Zheng SS. Clinical practice guidelines on liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma in China (2018 edition). Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int 2019; 18:307-312. [PMID: 31279679 DOI: 10.1016/j.hbpd.2019.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China.
| | - Jun Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Qiang Wei
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Zhi-Kun Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Zhe Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Ming Zhang
- Department of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Guo-Ying Wang
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, the Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Jie Gao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Zhao-Xu Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Wen-Yuan Guo
- Department of Liver Surgery and Organ Transplantation, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China
| | - Tong-Hai Xing
- General Surgery Center, Shanghai General Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Zhou Shao
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Qin-Fen Xie
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Shulan (Hangzhou) Hospital, Hangzhou 310004, China
| | - Shu-Sen Zheng
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China.
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33
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Mahmud N, John B, Taddei TH, Goldberg DS. Pre-transplant alpha-fetoprotein is associated with post-transplant hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence mortality. Clin Transplant 2019; 33:e13634. [PMID: 31177570 DOI: 10.1111/ctr.13634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 06/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although liver transplantation may potentially cure hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the risk of HCC recurrence is 8%-20% at five years post-transplant. Pre-transplant alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a predictor of HCC recurrence, but it is unknown if pre-transplant AFP also predicts survival in patients with recurrence. METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study using the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database between 2002 and 2016. We identified adult transplant recipients with HCC recurrence after liver transplantation for HCC and used Cox regression to compare patient survival among different maximum pre-transplant AFP levels. RESULTS The cohort (N = 1164) was primarily male, white, and with hepatitis C liver disease. The median time to HCC recurrence was 11.6 months (interquartile range 6.1-26.3). In Cox regression analysis, increasing pre-transplant AFP was associated with poorer survival when adjusting for age, pre-transplant model for end-stage liver disease (MELD), and time to HCC recurrence. For example, patients with pre-transplant AFP ≥500ng/mL had a 1.6-fold higher risk of death versus those with AFP ≤20ng/mL (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Pre-transplant AFP is independently associated with survival in patients with HCC recurrence. These findings further contextualize the importance of pre-transplant AFP in liver transplantation and may improve prognostication for patients with HCC recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadim Mahmud
- Division of Gastroenterology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Binu John
- Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.,McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Tamar H Taddei
- Division of Digestive Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.,VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut
| | - David S Goldberg
- Division of Gastroenterology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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34
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Filgueira NA. Hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after liver transplantation: Risk factors, screening and clinical presentation. World J Hepatol 2019; 11:261-272. [PMID: 30967904 PMCID: PMC6447422 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v11.i3.261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/16/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver transplantation is the best treatment option for cirrhotic patients with early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma, but it faces the problem of scarcity of donors and the risk of tumor recurrence, which affects between 15% and 20% of the cases, despite the use of restrictive criteria. The risk of recurrence depends on a number of factors, related to the tumor, the patient, and the treatment, which are discussed in this review. Some of these factors are already well established, such as the histopathological characteristics of the tumor, Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels, and waiting time. Other factors related to the biological behavior of the tumor and treatment should be recognized because they can be used in the refinement of the selection criteria of transplant candidates and in an attempt to reduce recurrence. This review also discusses the clinical presentation of recurrence and its prognosis, contributing to the identification of a subgroup of patients who may have better survival, if they are timely identified and treated. Development of recurrence after the first year, with AFP levels ≤ 100 ng/mL, and single site capable of locoregional therapy are associated with better survival after recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norma Arteiro Filgueira
- Department of Internal Medicine, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco 50670-901, Brazil
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35
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Shimamura T, Akamatsu N, Fujiyoshi M, Kawaguchi A, Morita S, Kawasaki S, Uemoto S, Kokudo N, Hasegawa K, Ohdan H, Egawa H, Furukawa H, Todo S. Expanded living-donor liver transplantation criteria for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma based on the Japanese nationwide survey: the 5-5-500 rule - a retrospective study. Transpl Int 2019; 32:356-368. [PMID: 30556935 DOI: 10.1111/tri.13391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Revised: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Expansion of the liver transplantation indication criteria for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has long been debated. Here we propose new, expanded living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) criteria for HCC patients based on a retrospective data analysis of the Japanese nationwide survey. A total of 965 HCC patients undergoing LDLT were included, 301 (31%) of whom were beyond the Milan criteria. Here, we applied the Greenwood formula to investigate new criteria enabling the maximal enrollment of candidates while securing a 5-year recurrence rate (95% upper confidence limit) below 10% by examining various combinations of tumor numbers and serum alpha-fetoprotein values, and maintaining the maximal nodule diameter at 5 cm. Finally, new expanded criteria for LDLT candidates with HCC, the 5-5-500 rule (nodule size ≤5 cm in diameter, nodule number ≤5, and alfa-fetoprotein value ≤500 ng/ml), were established as a new regulation with a 95% confidence interval of a 5-year recurrence rate of 7.3% (5.2-9.3) and a 19% increase in the number of eligible patients. In addition, the 5-5-500 rule could identify patients at high risk of recurrence, among those within and beyond the Milan criteria. In conclusion, the new criteria - the 5-5-500 rule - might provide rational expansion for LDLT candidates with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsuyoshi Shimamura
- Division of Organ Transplantation, Hokkaido University Hospital, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Nobuhisa Akamatsu
- Artificial Organ and Transplantation Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masato Fujiyoshi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery 1, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Atushi Kawaguchi
- Center for Comprehensive Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan
| | - Satoshi Morita
- Institute for Advancement of Clinical and Translational Science, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Seiji Kawasaki
- Department of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinji Uemoto
- Division of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic and Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Norihiro Kokudo
- Artificial Organ and Transplantation Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Hasegawa
- Artificial Organ and Transplantation Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hideki Ohdan
- Department of Gastroenterological and Transplant Surgery, Applied Life Sciences, Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hiroto Egawa
- Department of Surgery, Institute of Gastroenterology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Furukawa
- Division of Gastroenterological Surgery, Department of Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Satoru Todo
- Research Institute of St. Mary's Hospital, Kurume, Japan
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36
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O'Rourke JM, Shetty S, Shah T, Perera MTPR. Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: pushing the boundaries. Transl Gastroenterol Hepatol 2019; 4:1. [PMID: 30854488 DOI: 10.21037/tgh.2018.12.07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Tahir Shah
- Liver Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK
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37
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Magistri P, Rosenblatt R, Halazun KJ. Liver Transplantation for HCC Beyond Milan. CURRENT TRANSPLANTATION REPORTS 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s40472-018-0212-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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38
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Lai Q, Vitale A. Transplantation for hepatocellular cancer: pushing to the limits? Transl Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018; 3:61. [PMID: 30363754 DOI: 10.21037/tgh.2018.09.07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Milan criteria (MC) represents the cornerstone in the selection of patients with hepatocellular cancer (HCC) waiting for liver transplantation (LT). MC represent the precursor of the scores based on the idea of "utility": in other terms, the scoring systems typically used in the field of LT oncology present the exclusive aim of selecting the cases with the best post-LT outcomes. However, some other scores have been proposed specifically investigating the risk of death or tumour progression during the waiting list. In this case, the selection process is connected with the idea of "priority": patients at higher risk for drop-out (DO) should be selected, prioritising them or, conversely, deciding to de-list them due to the high risk of post-LT futile transplant. Lastly, models based on the concept of "benefit", namely the balancing between priority and utility, have been recently created. The present review aims to examine these three different types of scoring systems, trying to underline their pro and cons in the allocation process of HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quirino Lai
- General Surgery and Organ Transplantation Unit, Department of Surgery, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Vitale
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, Padua University, Padua, Italy
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39
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Toso C, Meeberg G, Andres A, Shore C, Saunders C, Bigam DL, Shapiro AMJ, Compagnon P, Berney T, Majno P, Kneteman N. Downstaging prior to liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: advisable but at the price of an increased risk of cancer recurrence - a retrospective study. Transpl Int 2018; 32:163-172. [PMID: 30152891 DOI: 10.1111/tri.13337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Revised: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The use of downstaging prior to liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) still needs refinement. This study included patients with HCC listed for transplantation according to the Total Tumour Volume (TTV) ≤115 cm3 and alpha fetoprotein (AFP) ≤400 ng/ml criteria, with and without previous downstaging. Overall, 455 patients were listed, and 286 transplanted. Post-transplant follow-up was 38.5 ± 1.7 months. Patients downstaged to TTV115/AFP400 (n = 29) demonstrated similar disease-free survivals (DFS, 74% vs. 80% at 5 years, P = 0.949), but a trend to more recurrences (14% vs. 5.8%, P = 0.10) than those always within TTV115/AFP400 (n = 257). Similarly, patients downstaged to Milan criteria (n = 80) demonstrated similar DFS (76% vs. 86% at 5 years, P = 0.258), but more recurrences (11% vs. 1.7%, P = 0.001) than those always within Milan (n = 177). Among patients downstaged to Milan, those originally beyond TTV115/AFP400 (n = 27) had similar outcomes as those originally beyond Milan, but within TTV115/AFP400 (n = 53). However, the likelihood of being within Milan at transplant was lower for patients with more advanced original HCCs (P < 0.0001). Overall, despite an expected increase in post-transplant HCC recurrence, similar survivals can be achieved with and without downstaging, using the TTV115/AFP400 transplantation criteria, and including patients with advanced original HCCs. Downstaging should continue to be performed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Toso
- Divisions of Transplant and Abdominal Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.,Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Center, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Glenda Meeberg
- Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Axel Andres
- Divisions of Transplant and Abdominal Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.,Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Center, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Carolina Shore
- Divisions of Transplant and Abdominal Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.,Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Center, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Colleen Saunders
- Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - David L Bigam
- Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | | | - Philippe Compagnon
- Divisions of Transplant and Abdominal Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.,Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Center, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Thierry Berney
- Divisions of Transplant and Abdominal Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.,Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Center, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Pietro Majno
- Divisions of Transplant and Abdominal Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.,Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Center, University of Geneva Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Norman Kneteman
- Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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40
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Welling TH, Eddinger K, Carrier K, Zhu D, Kleaveland T, Moore DE, Schaubel DE, Abt PL. Multicenter Study of Staging and Therapeutic Predictors of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence Following Transplantation. Liver Transpl 2018; 24:1233-1242. [PMID: 29729113 PMCID: PMC6153067 DOI: 10.1002/lt.25194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) and resection are effective treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, optimizing OLT and limiting HCC recurrence remains a vexing problem. New HCC Model for End-Stage Liver Disease and allocation algorithms provide greater observation of HCC patients, many while receiving local-regional treatments. Potential benefits of local-regional treatment for limiting HCC recurrence after OLT remain incompletely understood. Therefore, we aimed to define HCC-specific prognostic factors affecting recurrence in a contemporary, multicenter cohort of HCC patients undergoing OLT and specifically whether local-regional therapies limited recurrence. We identified 441 patients undergoing OLT for HCC at 3 major transplant centers from 2008 to 2013. Cox regression was used to analyze covariate-adjusted recurrence and mortality rates after OLT. "Bridging" or "downstaging" therapy was used in 238 (54%) patients with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) being used in 170 (71%) of treated patients. The survival rate after OLT was 88% and 78% at 1 and 3 years, respectively, with HCC recurrence (28% of deaths) significantly increasing the mortality rate (hazard ratio [HR], 19.87; P < 0.001). Tumor size, not tumor number, either at presentation or on explant independently predicted HCC recurrence (HR, 1.36 and 1.73, respectively; P < 0.05) with a threshold effect noted at 4.0-cm size. Local-regional therapy (TACE) reduced HCC recurrence by 64% when adjusting for presenting tumor size (HR, 0.36; P < 0.05). Explant tumor size and microvascular invasion predicted mortality (HR, 1.19 and 1.51, respectively; P < 0.05) and pathologic response to therapy (TACE or radiofrequency ablation) significantly decreased explant tumor size (0.56-1.62 cm diameter reduction; P < 0.05). In conclusion, HCC tumor size at presentation or explant is the most important predictor for HCC recurrence after OLT. Local-regional therapy to achieve a pathologic response (decreasing tumor size) can limit HCC recurrences after OLT. Liver Transplantation 00 000-000 2018 AASLD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kevin Eddinger
- Department of Surgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
| | | | - Danting Zhu
- School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | | | | | | | - Peter L. Abt
- Department of Surgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
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41
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Sternby Eilard M, Holmberg E, Naredi P, Söderdahl G, Rizell M. Addition of alfa fetoprotein to traditional criteria for hepatocellular carcinoma improves selection accuracy in liver transplantation. Scand J Gastroenterol 2018; 53:976-983. [PMID: 30169974 DOI: 10.1080/00365521.2018.1488180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Liver transplantation in hepatocellular cancer (HCC) is curative only for a selection of patients. Commonly used criteria are mostly based on tumor size and number. However, patients within criteria do have tumor recurrences after transplantation and patients outside criteria are excluded even though some could benefit from transplantation. The tumor marker alpha fetoprotein (AFP) is associated with poor outcome and has already been reported to improve selection. We investigated the hypothesis that AFP level combined with traditional selection criteria could ameliorate the selection accuracy for liver transplantation in HCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective national cohort study in 336 patients who had liver transplantation for HCC in Sweden 1996-2014. RESULTS AFP cut-off levels of 20, 100, 1000 and >1000 ng/mL stratified both survival and tumor recurrence, with estimated 5-year survival rates of 74, 61, 49 and 31%, respectively. A simple score, combining three risk levels according to Milan and UCSF fulfillment with three levels of AFP, increased predictive accuracy. A high score identified 35 at-risk patients with estimated post-transplant 5-year survival rate of only 29% compared to 50% for 76 patients excluded by UCSF. More patients were within the combined score cut-off compared to within UCSF, but 5-year survival was similar, 67% versus 66%. CONCLUSION AFP combined with traditional selection criteria ameliorates the selection accuracy for liver transplantation in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malin Sternby Eilard
- a Department of Surgery , Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg , Sweden.,b Transplantation Centre , Sahlgrenska University Hospital , Gothenburg , Sweden
| | - Erik Holmberg
- c Department of Oncology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy , University of Gothenburg , Sweden.,d Regional Cancer Centre West , Sahlgrenska University Hospital , Gothenburg , Sweden
| | - Peter Naredi
- a Department of Surgery , Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg , Sweden.,e Department of Surgery , Sahlgrenska University Hospital , Gothenburg , Sweden
| | - Gunnar Söderdahl
- f Department of Transplantation, CLINTEC , Karolinska Institute and Karolinska University Hospital , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Magnus Rizell
- a Department of Surgery , Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg , Sweden.,b Transplantation Centre , Sahlgrenska University Hospital , Gothenburg , Sweden
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42
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Sangiovanni A, Colombo M. Bridging to liver transplantation patients with a hepatocellular carcinoma within Milan criteria: how worth is it? Hepatobiliary Surg Nutr 2018; 7:202-205. [PMID: 30046574 DOI: 10.21037/hbsn.2018.03.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Sangiovanni
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, CRC "AM e A Migliavacca" Center for Liver Disease, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Massimo Colombo
- Department of Medicine, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Humanitas Hospital, Rozzano, Italy
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43
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Llovet JM, Mazzaferro V, Piscaglia F, Raoul JL, Schirmacher P, Vilgrain V. EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines: Management of hepatocellular carcinoma. J Hepatol 2018; 69:182-236. [PMID: 29628281 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2018.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5211] [Impact Index Per Article: 868.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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44
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Afshar M, Fletcher P, Bardoli AD, Ma YT, Punia P. Non-secretion of AFP and neutrophil lymphocyte ratio as predictors for survival in hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with sorafenib: a large UK cohort. Oncotarget 2018; 9:16988-16995. [PMID: 29682199 PMCID: PMC5908300 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.24769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Accepted: 02/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Sorafenib is the current standard of care for patients with advanced or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma. Currently no universally agreed model exists correlating the Neutrophil Lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and non-secretion of AFP with the survival of HCC patients treated with sorafenib. Patients and Methods We retrospectively analysed patient records with a confirmed diagnosis of HCC treated with sorafenib between April 2009 and March 2014. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression. Results Patients separated into groups based on NLR (≤3 or >3), or AFP secretion profile (<7 ng/ml or ≥7 ng/ml) derived diverging Kaplan–Meier curves for overall survival (OS). The median OS in those with NLR ≤3.0 was 9.0 months (95% CI: 7.7–11.1 months) and in those with NLR >3.0 it was 6.0 months (95% CI: 4.9–8.2 months) [HR 1.32 (95% CI: 0.96–1.80)]. The median overall survival post sorafenib was higher in the “non-secretor” AFP group. OS for AFP <7 ng/ml was 10.0 months (95% CI: 7.7–19.3 months) compared to AFP ≥7ng/ml: 6.6 months (95% CI: 5.3–8.4 months) [HR 1.64 (95% CI: 1.15–2.33)]. Conclusion NLR and AFP non - secretion at diagnosis are potential significant prognosticators for overall survival from initiation of sorafenib.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehran Afshar
- Oncology, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | | | - Antonio D Bardoli
- College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Yuk Ting Ma
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Pankaj Punia
- Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
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Di Sandro S, Sposito C, Lauterio A, Najjar M, Droz Dit Busset M, Buscemi V, Flores Reyes M, De Carlis R, Mazzaferro V, De Carlis L. Proposal of Prognostic Survival Models before and after Liver Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Potentially Transplantable Patients. J Am Coll Surg 2018; 226:1147-1159. [PMID: 29574178 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2018.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2017] [Revised: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transplantable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a highly debated issue due to the overlap between indications for liver resection (LR) and transplantation (LT) in patients suitable for both. STUDY DESIGN Between January 2000 and December 2012, five hundred and twenty-four transplantable patients affected by HCC were identified among resected patients. Two regression models were constructed to classify patients into 2 groups pre-low and pre-high risk based on preoperative variables and then to reclassify pre-low-risk patients according to postoperative variables into either post-low or post-high-risk. Additionally, a cohort of patients with comparable baseline characteristics who underwent LT were similarly classified into pre-low and pre-high-risk groups and compared with the resected patients in terms of survival. RESULTS Cirrhosis, aspartate transaminase, α-fetoprotein, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score, number of nodules, and diameter of the largest nodule were preoperatively found to be significantly related to overall survival post-LR. Microvascular invasion and satellites were selected to reclassify prognosis in the resulting preoperative low-risk group into post-high risk. The converted group (post-high) demonstrated the same 5-year survival as the pre-high group. Patients undergoing LT had better survival overall than those undergoing LR, with the exception of pre-low LT and post-low LR (confirmed low-risk LR) who had similar outcomes. CONCLUSIONS The new models were strongly predictive of patients' likelihood of survival after LR for HCC on liver cirrhosis. Liver transplantation offers a survival advantage over LR, except in low-risk groups where both modalities might be comparable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Di Sandro
- Department of General Surgery and Transplantation, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy; Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Carlo Sposito
- Gastrointestinal Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Lauterio
- Department of General Surgery and Transplantation, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
| | - Marc Najjar
- Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY; Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY
| | - Michele Droz Dit Busset
- Gastrointestinal Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Buscemi
- Department of General Surgery and Transplantation, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Flores Reyes
- Gastrointestinal Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Riccardo De Carlis
- Department of General Surgery and Transplantation, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy; Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Mazzaferro
- Gastrointestinal Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Luciano De Carlis
- Department of General Surgery and Transplantation, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
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She WH, Chan ACY, Cheung TT, Lo CM, Chok KSH. Survival outcomes of liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with normal, high and very high preoperative alpha-fetoprotein levels. World J Hepatol 2018; 10:308-318. [PMID: 29527266 PMCID: PMC5838449 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v10.i2.308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2017] [Revised: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To investigate the impact of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) on long-term recurrence rate and overall survival and we also aimed to define the level of AFP leading to a higher risk of disease recurrence and affecting patient survival.
METHODS Data of adult patients who received liver transplant (LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at our hospital from January 2000 to December 2013 were reviewed. Reviewed data included demographic characteristics, preoperative AFP level, operative details, follow-up details, and survival outcomes. Patients were mostly listed for LT based on Milan or UCSF criteria. For the purpose of this study, normal AFP level was defined as AFP value < 10 ng/mL, high AFP level was defined as AFP value ≥ 10 to < 400 ng/mL, and very high AFP level was defined as AFP ≥ 400 ng/mL. The patients were divided into these 3 groups accordingly. Survival rates were plotted as Kaplan-Meier curves and compared by log-rank analysis. Continuous variables were expressed as median (interquartile range). Categorical variables were compared by Spearman’s test. Discriminative analysis was used to define the lowest value of AFP that could affect the overall survival in study population. Statistical significance was defined by a P value of < 0.05.
RESULTS Totally 250 adult patients underwent LT for HCC in the study period. Eight-four of them received deceased-donor LT and 166 had living-donor LT. The patients were divided into 3 groups: Group A, AFP < 10 ng/mL (n = 83); Group B, AFP ≥ 10 to < 400 ng/mL (n = 131); Group C, AFP ≥ 400 ng/mL (n = 36). The commonest etiology was hepatitis-B-related cirrhosis. The Model for End-stage Liver Disease scores in these groups were similar (median, 13 vs 13 vs 12; P = 0.745). The time to operation in Group A was longer (median, 94 vs 31 vs 35 d; P = 0.001). The groups were similar in hospital mortality (P = 0.626) and postoperative complication (P = 0.702). Pathology of explants showed that the 3 groups had similar numbers of tumor nodules, but the tumors in Group C were larger (A: 2.5 cm, B: 3.0 cm, C: 4.0 cm; P = 0.003). Group C had a bigger proportion of patients who were beyond Milan criteria (P = 0.010). Poor differentiation and vascular permeation were also more common in this group (P = 0.017 and P = 0.003 respectively). It also had poorer 5-year survival (A: 85.5%, B: 82.4%, C: 66%; P = 0.029). The 5-year disease-free survival was 84.3% in Group A, 80.1% in Group B, and 61.1% in Group C. Receiver operating characteristic area under the curve for AFP in predicting tumor recurrence was 0.685. The selected cut-off value was 54 ng/mL for AFP (C-index 0.685; 95%CI: 0.592-0.779; sensitivity 0.595; specificity 0.687). On discriminative analysis, AFP value of 105 ng/mL was shown to affect the overall survival of the patients.
CONCLUSION HCC patients with a high preoperative AFP level had inferior survival after LT. AFP level of 54 ng/mL was associated with disease recurrence, and AFP level of 105 ng/mL was found to be the cut-off value for overall survival difference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wong Hoi She
- Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Albert Chi Yan Chan
- Department of Surgery and State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tan To Cheung
- Department of Surgery and State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chung Mau Lo
- Department of Surgery and State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kenneth Siu Ho Chok
- Department of Surgery and State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Burra P, Zanetto A, Germani G. Liver Transplantation for Alcoholic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2018; 10:E46. [PMID: 29425151 PMCID: PMC5836078 DOI: 10.3390/cancers10020046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Revised: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the main important causes of cancer-related death and its mortality is increasingly worldwide. In Europe, alcohol abuse accounts for approximately half of all liver cancer cases and it will become the leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma in the next future with the sharp decline of chronic viral hepatitis. The pathophysiology of alcohol-induced carcinogenesis involves acetaldehyde catabolism, oxidative stress and chronic liver inflammation. Genetic background plays also a significant role and specific patterns of gene mutations in alcohol-related hepatocellular carcinoma have been characterized. Survival is higher in patients who undergo specific surveillance programmes than in patients who do not. However, patients with alcohol cirrhosis present a significantly greater risk of liver decompensation than those with cirrhosis due to other aetiologies. Furthermore, the adherence to screening program can be suboptimal. Liver transplant for patients with Milan-in hepatocellular carcinoma represents the best possible treatment in case of tumour recurrence/progression despite loco-regional or surgical treatments. Long-term result after liver transplantation for alcohol related liver disease is good. However, cardiovascular disease and de novo malignancies can significantly hamper patients' survival and should be carefully considered by transplant team. In this review, we have focused on the evolution of alcohol-related hepatocellular carcinoma epidemiology and risk factors as well as on liver transplantation in alcoholic patients with and without hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Burra
- Multivisceral Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, Padua University Hospital, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padua, Italy.
| | - Alberto Zanetto
- Multivisceral Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, Padua University Hospital, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padua, Italy.
| | - Giacomo Germani
- Multivisceral Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, Padua University Hospital, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padua, Italy.
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Kulik L, Heimbach JK, Zaiem F, Almasri J, Prokop LJ, Wang Z, Murad MH, Mohammed K. Therapies for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma awaiting liver transplantation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Hepatology 2018; 67:381-400. [PMID: 28859222 DOI: 10.1002/hep.29485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 193] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Revised: 04/03/2017] [Accepted: 06/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who are listed for liver transplantation (LT) are often treated while on the waiting list with locoregional therapy (LRT), which is aimed at either preventing progression of HCC or reducing the measurable disease burden of HCC in order to receive increased allocation priority. We aimed to synthesize evidence regarding the effectiveness of LRT in the management of patients with HCC who were on the LT waitlist. We conducted a comprehensive search of multiple databases from 1996 to April 25, 2016, for studies that enrolled adults with cirrhosis awaiting LT and treated with bridging or down-staging therapies before LT. Therapies included transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, transarterial radioembolization, ablation, and radiotherapy. We included both comparative and noncomparative studies. There were no randomized controlled trials identified. For adults with T1 HCC and waiting for LT, there were only two nonrandomized comparative studies, both with a high risk of bias, which reported the outcome of interest. In one series, the rate of dropout from all causes at 6 months in T1 HCC patients who underwent LRT was 5.3%, while in the other series of T1 HCC patients who did not receive LRT, the dropout rate at median follow-up of 2.4 years and the progression rate to T2 HCC were 30% and 88%, respectively. For adults with T2 HCC awaiting LT, transplant with any bridging therapy showed a nonsignificant reduction in the risk of waitlist dropout due to progression (relative risk [RR], 0.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.06-1.85; I2 = 0%) and of waitlist dropout from all causes (RR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.060-2.370; I2 = 85.7%) compared to no therapy based on three comparative studies. The quality of evidence is very low due to high risk of bias, imprecision, and inconsistency. There were five comparative studies which reported on posttransplant survival rates and 10 comparative studies which reported on posttransplant recurrence, and there was no significant difference seen in either of these endpoints. For adults initially with stage T3 HCC who received LRT, there were three studies reporting on transplant with any down-staging therapy versus no downstaging, and this showed a significant increase in 1-year (two studies, RR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.01-1.23) and 5-year (1 study, RR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.03-1.32) post-LT survival rates for patients who received LRT. The quality of evidence is very low due to serious risk of bias and imprecision. CONCLUSION In patients with HCC listed for LT, the use of LRT is associated with a nonsignificant trend toward improved waitlist and posttransplant outcomes, though there is a high risk of selection bias in the available evidence. (Hepatology 2018;67:381-400).
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Kulik
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Northwestern School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | | | - Feras Zaiem
- Evidence-Based Practice Center, Mayo Clinic Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Jehad Almasri
- Evidence-Based Practice Center, Mayo Clinic Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Larry J Prokop
- Evidence-Based Practice Center, Mayo Clinic Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Zhen Wang
- Evidence-Based Practice Center, Mayo Clinic Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - M Hassan Murad
- Evidence-Based Practice Center, Mayo Clinic Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Khaled Mohammed
- Evidence-Based Practice Center, Mayo Clinic Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
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Bryce K, Tsochatzis EA. Downstaging for hepatocellular cancer: harm or benefit? Transl Gastroenterol Hepatol 2017; 2:106. [PMID: 29354763 DOI: 10.21037/tgh.2017.11.18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Downstaging of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to enable liver transplantation has become an area of intense interest and research. It may allow a curative option in patients outside widely accepted transplantation criteria, with outcomes that, in some studies, are comparable to transplantation for patients within criteria. There have been conflicting opinions on the best downstaging protocols, criteria for downstaging eligibility and for assessment of response. We therefore aimed to review the literature and evidence for downstaging, as well as considering its drawbacks. CONCLUSION Pooled analyses have suggested success in down staging in about half of patients treated, but with higher recurrence rates than patients initially within transplantation criteria. Studies with strict inclusion criteria and mandatory waiting time before transplantation reported survival equivalent to patients who did not require downstaging. In carefully selected patients, there is a role for down staging to provide the chance of transplantation and cure, with acceptable outcomes. Further multi center, well-designed studies are required to clarify who will mostly benefit. Until such data is available, downstaging criteria should be stated within transplantation programs and relevant decisions should be discussed by multidisciplinary teams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen Bryce
- UCL Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, Royal Free Hospital and UCL, London, UK
| | - Emmanuel A Tsochatzis
- UCL Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, Royal Free Hospital and UCL, London, UK
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50
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Díaz-González Á, Forner A, Rodríguez de Lope C, Varela M. New challenges in clinical research on hepatocellular carcinoma. REVISTA ESPANOLA DE ENFERMEDADES DIGESTIVAS 2017; 108:485-93. [PMID: 26653993 DOI: 10.17235/reed.2015.4012/2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
This is an updated review of screening, early diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, focusing on the advancements occurred in the last years and highlighting the challenges in clinical research. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is nowadays the sixth most frequent cancer worldwide with up to 740,000 new cases diagnosed each year, and it is the third most prevalent cause of cancer-related-death worldwide (1). This neoplasm usually appears linked to an underlying liver disease, being one of the most relevant causes of death in patients diagnosed of liver cirrhosis (2,3). In the last years, important advancements in terms of diagnosis, staging and treatment of HCC, improving the management and outcome of the disease, have been made (4-7). Despite the fact that these improvements have absolutely changed natural history of HCC, there are several areas that still need further advancements. The aim of this document is to discuss some controversial aspects, which in our opinion constitute real challenges in clinical research of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álvaro Díaz-González
- Servicio de Hepatología. Hospital Clínic Barcelona, Unidad de Oncología Hepática (BCLC)
| | - Alejandro Forner
- Hospital Clínic Barcelona. Ciberehd, Unidad de Oncología Hepática (BCLC)
| | | | - María Varela
- Digestivo. Sección de Hepatología, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, España
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