Effect of different liver function Child-Pugh classification on clinical prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma recipients after liver transplantation / 器官移植

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the effect of the different Child-Pugh classification on the recurrence and survival of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recipients after liver transplantation. Methods Clinical data of 125 HCC recipients undergoing liver transplantation were retrospectively analyzed. The 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were calculated by Kaplan-Meier survival curve. The independent risk factors probably affecting the recurrence and survival of HCC recipients after liver transplantation were identified by using Cox's proportional hazards regression model. Results The median follow-up time was 25.6 months. The 3-year DFS and OS rates were 68.4% and 65.7% for all patients. The 3-year DFS and OS rates in 113 patients with Child-Pugh class A/B HCC were 68.6% and 66.2%, whereas 66.7% and 65.6% for 12 patients with Child-Pugh class C HCC with no statistical significance (all P>0.05). Cox's proportional hazards regression model demonstrated that vascular invasion (P=0.001)and the number of tumors>3 (P=0.025) were the independent risk factors for the postoperative recurrence of HCC in recipients undergoing liver transplantation. Alpha fetoprotein (AFP)>400μg/L (P=0.035), vascular invasion (P=0.031) and number of tumors>3 (P=0.008) were the independent risk factors affecting the survival of HCC patients. Conclusions The postoperative prognosis does not significantly differ between Child-Pugh class C and A/B HCC patients after liver transplantation. AFP, vascular invasion and number of tumors are the risk factors affecting the clinical prognosis of HCC patients after liver transplantation. Liver transplantation is an efficacious treatment for HCC patients with Child-Pugh class C.