Recurrence and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation: single center experiences / 中华外科杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinical features and treatment of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data of 95 patients with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after liver transplantation from January 2003 to November 2005 were analyzed retrospectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>During follow-up, 42 patients (43.2%) were diagnosed HCC recurrence. The predominant sites of recurrence were liver graft (32 cases), lung (21 cases), bone (7 cases). Tumor size, tumor distribution, liver cirrhosis, pre-transplant AFP level, tumor differentiation, macrovascular invasion were considered risk factors of both post-transplant survival and HCC recurrence in univariate analysis. Tumor distribution, tumor differentiation, macrovascular invasion were considered independent risk factors of both overall post-transplant survival and HCC recurrence in multivariate analysis. Intervention therapy and internal radiation of recurrent HCC could delay tumor progression and resection of recurrent HCC in selected patients can significantly prolong post-recurrence survival.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Carefully selection of HCC patients as candidates for liver transplantation can significantly reduce HCC recurrence. At the present stage, surgical resection of recurrent HCC is the best treatment method in selected patients.</p>