Liver transplantation for hepatic tumors: a systematic review.
Improvements in the medical and pharmacological management of liver transplantation (LT) recipients have led to a better long-term outcome and extension of the indications for this procedure. Liver tumors are relevant to LT; however, the use of LT to treat malignancies remains a debated issue because the high risk of recurrence. In this review we considered LT for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), liver metastases (LM) and other rare tumors. We reviewed the literature, focusing on the past 10 years. The highly selected Milan criteria of LT for HCC (single nodule < 5 cm or up to 3 nodules < 3 cm) have been recently extended by a group from the University of S. Francisco (1 lesion < 6.5 cm or up to 3 lesions < 4.5 cm) with satisfying results in terms of recurrence-free survival and the "up-to-seven criteria". Moreover, using these criteria, other transplant groups have recently developed downstaging protocols, including surgical or loco-regional treatments of HCC, which have increased the post-operative survival of recipients. CCA may be treated by LT in patients who cannot undergo liver resection because of underlying liver disease or for anatomical technical challenges. A well-defined protocol of chemoirradiation and staging laparotomy before LT has been developed by the Mayo Clinic, which has resulted in long term disease-free survival comparable to other indications. LT for LM has also been investigated by multicenter studies. It offers a real benefit for metastases from neuroendocrine tumors that are well differentiated and when a major extrahepatic resection is not required. If LT is an option in these selected cases, liver metastases from colorectal cancer is still a borderline indication because data concerning the disease-free survival are still lacking. Hepatoblastoma and hemangioendothelioma represent rare primary tumors for which LT is often the only possible and effective cure because of the frequent multifocal, intrahepatic nature of the disease. LT is a very promising procedure for both primary and secondary liver malignancies; however, it needs an accurate evaluation of the costs and benefits for each indication to balance the chances of cure with actual organ availability.
Matteo Ravaioli, Giorgio Ercolani, Flavia Neri, Matteo Cescon, Giacomo Stacchini, Massimo Del Gaudio, Alessandro Cucchetti, Antonio Daniele Pinna, Department of General Surgery and Transplantation, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
Matteo
M
Ravaioli
Matteo Ravaioli, Giorgio Ercolani, Flavia Neri, Matteo Cescon, Giacomo Stacchini, Massimo Del Gaudio, Alessandro Cucchetti, Antonio Daniele Pinna, Department of General Surgery and Transplantation, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
Giorgio
G
Ercolani
Matteo Ravaioli, Giorgio Ercolani, Flavia Neri, Matteo Cescon, Giacomo Stacchini, Massimo Del Gaudio, Alessandro Cucchetti, Antonio Daniele Pinna, Department of General Surgery and Transplantation, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
Flavia
F
Neri
Matteo Ravaioli, Giorgio Ercolani, Flavia Neri, Matteo Cescon, Giacomo Stacchini, Massimo Del Gaudio, Alessandro Cucchetti, Antonio Daniele Pinna, Department of General Surgery and Transplantation, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
Matteo
M
Cescon
Matteo Ravaioli, Giorgio Ercolani, Flavia Neri, Matteo Cescon, Giacomo Stacchini, Massimo Del Gaudio, Alessandro Cucchetti, Antonio Daniele Pinna, Department of General Surgery and Transplantation, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
Giacomo
G
Stacchini
Matteo Ravaioli, Giorgio Ercolani, Flavia Neri, Matteo Cescon, Giacomo Stacchini, Massimo Del Gaudio, Alessandro Cucchetti, Antonio Daniele Pinna, Department of General Surgery and Transplantation, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
Massimo
M
Del Gaudio
Matteo Ravaioli, Giorgio Ercolani, Flavia Neri, Matteo Cescon, Giacomo Stacchini, Massimo Del Gaudio, Alessandro Cucchetti, Antonio Daniele Pinna, Department of General Surgery and Transplantation, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
Alessandro
A
Cucchetti
Matteo Ravaioli, Giorgio Ercolani, Flavia Neri, Matteo Cescon, Giacomo Stacchini, Massimo Del Gaudio, Alessandro Cucchetti, Antonio Daniele Pinna, Department of General Surgery and Transplantation, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
Antonio Daniele
AD
Pinna
D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Cholangiocarcinoma; Hemangioendothelioma; Hepatoblastoma; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Liver cancer; Liver metastases; Liver transplantation; Neuroendocrine carcinoma