title: Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: is zero recurrence theoretically possible?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence remains a key issue after liver transplantation. This study aimed to determine a subgroup of HCC patients within the Milan criteria who could achieve a theoretical goal of zero recurrence rates after liver transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1999 and 2009, 179 patients who received liver transplantation for HCC within the Milan criteria were retrospectively included. Analysis of the factors associated with HCC recurrence was performed to determine the subgroup of patients at the lowest risk of recurrence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-two percent of the patients received a bridging therapy, including 54 liver resections. Eleven (6.1%) patients recurred within a delay of 19+/-22 months and ultimately died. Factors associated with recurrence were serum alpha-fetoprotein level >400 ng/mL, satellite nodules, poor differentiation, microvascular invasion and cholangiocarcinoma component. Recurrence rates decreased from 6.1% to 3.1% in patients without any of these factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among HCC patients within the Milan criteria, selecting patients with factors based on histology would allow tending towards zero recurrence, and prior histological assessment by liver biopsy or resection may be essential to rule out poorly differentiated tumors, microvascular invasion, and cholangiocarcinoma component.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Beaujon Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris, University Denis Diderot-Paris VII, Clichy, France. louise.barbier@bjn.aphp.fr.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Irtan
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barbier
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Francoz
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dondero
authors.forename: Francois
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Durand
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Belghiti
mesh_terms: D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D018193:Neoplasms, Complex and Mixed; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: C097353:AFP protein, human; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins