title: Sirolimus-based immunosuppression following liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Experience with sirolimus (SRL)-based immunosuppression following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is rapidly accumulating. In combination with calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs), SRL may reduce the incidence of acute rejection and lower overall required drug levels. This study sought to quantify long-term outcome following OLT in patients with cirrhosis and concomitant hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who were treated with an SRL-based regimen as a primary therapy. From January 2000 to June 2007, 97 patients underwent OLT for end-stage liver disease and HCC at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. Of those, 45 patients received SRL, in addition to CNIs, as a component of their primary immunosuppression regimen post-OLT. Conversely, 52 patients received the standard immunosuppression regimen including CNIs, mycophenolate mofetil, and corticosteroids. The 2 treatment groups were compared with respect to the following variables: age, gender, tumor stage by explant, grade, size, presence of vascular invasion, focality, Child's class, baseline creatinine, and warm and cold ischemic times. The 2 groups were comparable by all factors save for cold ischemic time, which was significantly longer in the CNI-treated group. Overall survival at 1 and 5 years post-OLT for patients treated with SRL was 95.5% and 78.8%, respectively. Conversely, survival in patients treated with CNIs exclusively at the same time intervals was 83% and 62%. Although there was no difference in the incidence of major complications, the SRL group experienced a modest improvement in renal function. Cumulatively, these data suggest a potential survival benefit with SRL-based therapy in patients undergoing OLT for end-stage liver disease and concomitant malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Transplant Surgery, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO 80045, USA. michael.zimmerman@uchsc.edu
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Trotter
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wachs
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bak
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Campsen
authors.forename: Afshin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skibba
authors.forename: Igal
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kam
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D020123:Sirolimus; D016559:Tacrolimus