Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma in the model for end-stage liver disease era.
BACKGROUND
Since March 2002, the United Network for Organ Sharing liver allocation policy has given extra priority to patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who meet specific medical criteria. This study reviews our experience with liver transplantation for HCC under this system.


METHODS
Between March 2002 and April 2009, 244 patients with HCC underwent primary liver or liver-kidney transplantation under the current allocation system at the University of Miami. Outcomes including HCC recurrence-free survival (RFS) and patient survival (PS) were assessed retrospectively. Clinical variables that predicted outcomes were analyzed.


RESULTS
The median time from listing to transplantation was 48 days. The median follow-up was 27.4 months, with an observed recurrence rate of 10.7%. The RFS rates at 1, 3, and 5 years after transplantation were 96.0%, 89.0%, and 83.6%, respectively. The PS rates at 1, 3, and 5 years after transplantation were 86.3%, 71.5%, and 61.7%, respectively. Among patients diagnosed with T2 HCC, a trend toward improved RFS was observed for those who received preoperative ablative therapy; PS was similar (p > 0.05). Outcomes (RFS and PS) for patients with T3 HCC were similar to those in patients with T2 HCC (p > 0.05). Patients with an alpha-fetoprotein >100 ng/mL had an RFS that was inferior to that in patients with an alpha-fetoprotein < or =100 ng/mL (p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Under the current allocation system, transplantation for HCC results in excellent RFS; PS depends on factors other than HCC; the value of preoperative ablative therapy for patients with T2 HCC is uncertain; the current criteria could be expanded to include selected patients with T3 HCC; and an elevated AFP level is associated with an increased risk of HCC recurrence after transplantation.
Levi
David M
DM
Miami Transplant Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
Tzakis
Andreas G
AG
Martin
Paul
P
Nishida
Seigo
S
Island
Eddie
E
Moon
Jang
J
Selvaggi
Gennaro
G
Tekin
Akin
A
Madrazo
Beatrice L
BL
Narayanan
Govindarajan
G
Garcia
Monica T
MT
Feun
Lynn G
LG
Tryphonopoulos
Panagiotis
P
Skartsis
Nikolaos
N
Livingstone
Alan S
AS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018579:Patient Selection; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome