Liver transplantation for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma on cirrhosis after liver resection: University of Bologna experience - PubMed (original) (raw)

doi: 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2008.02229.x. Epub 2008 Apr 29.

G Ercolani, M Ravaioli, M Cescon, A Lauro, M Vivarelli, M Zanello, A Cucchetti, G Vetrone, F Tuci, G Ramacciato, G L Grazi, A D Pinna

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Liver transplantation for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma on cirrhosis after liver resection: University of Bologna experience

M Del Gaudio et al. Am J Transplant. 2008 Jun.

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Abstract

Liver resection (LR) for patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with preserved liver function, employing liver transplantation (LT) as a salvage procedure (SLT) in the event of HCC recurrence, is a debated strategy. From 1996 to 2005, we treated 227 cirrhotic patients with HCC transplantable: 80 LRs and 147 LTs of 293 listed for transplantation. Among 80 patients eligible for transplantation who underwent LR, 39 (49%) developed HCC recurrence and 12/39 (31%) of these patients presented HCC recurrence outside Milan criteria. Only 10 of the 39 patients underwent LT, a transplantation rate of 26% of patients with HCC recurrence. According to intention-to-treat analysis of transplantable HCC patients who underwent LR (n = 80), compared to all those listed for transplantation (n = 293), 5-year overall survival was 66% in the LR group versus 58% in patients listed for LT, respectively (p = NS); 5-year disease-free survival was 41% in the LR group versus 54% in patients listed for LT (p = NS). Comparable 5-year overall (62% vs. 73%, p = NS) and disease-free (48% vs. 71%, p = NS) survival rates were obtained for SLT and primary LT for HCC, respectively. LR is a valid treatment for small HCC and in the event of recurrence, SLT is a safe and effective procedure.

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