[Liver transplantation increases R0 resection and survival of patients with a non-disseminated unresectable Klatskin tumour]

Meta-analysis and Meta-regression of Survival After Liver Transplantation for Unresectable Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To systematically review studies reporting survival data following neoadjuvant chemoradiation and orthotopic liver transplantation (NCR-OLT) for unresectable perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCC).

BACKGROUND

Despite survival improvements for other cancers, the prognosis of pCC remains dismal. Since publication of the Mayo protocol in 2000, increasing numbers of series globally are reporting outcomes after NCR-OLT.

METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched from January 2000 to February 2019. A meta-analysis of proportions was conducted, pooling 1, 3-, and 5-year overall survival and recurrence rates following NCR-OLT across centers. Per protocol and intention to treat data were interrogated. Meta-regression was used to evaluate PSC as a confounder affecting survival.

RESULTS

Twenty studies comprising 428 patients were eligible for analysis. No RCTs were retrieved; the majority of studies were noncomparative cohort studies. The pooled 1, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates following OLT without neoadjuvant therapy were 71.2% (95% CI 62.2%-79.4%), 48.0% (95% CI 35.0%-60.9%), and 31.6% (95% CI 23.1%-40.7%). These improved to 82.8% (95% CI 73.0%-90.8%), 65.5% (95% CI 48.7%-80.5%), and 65.1% (95% CI 55.1%-74.5%) if neoadjuvant chemoradiation was completed. Pooled recurrence after 3 years was 24.1% (95% CI 17.9%-30.9%) with neoadjuvant chemoradiation, 51.7% (95% CI 33.8%-69.4%) without.

CONCLUSIONS

In unresectable pCC, NCR-OLT confers long-term survival in highly selected patients able to complete neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by transplantation. PSC patients appear to have the most favorable outcomes. A high recurrence rate is of concern when considering extending national graft selection policy to pCC.

Liver transplantation for hilar cholangiocarcinoma

The most appropriate treatment for Klatskin tumor (KT) with a curative intention is multimodal therapy based on achieving resection with tumour-free margins (R0 resections) combined with other types of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment (the most important factor affecting KT survival is the possibility of R0 resections, achieving 5-year survival rate of 40%-50%). Thirty to forty percent of patients with KT are inoperable and present a 5-year survival rate of 0%. In irresectable non-disseminated KT patients, using liver transplantation without neoadjuvant treatment, the 5-year survival rate increase to 38%, reaching 50% survival in early stage. In selected cases, with liver transplantation and neoadjuvant treatment (chemotherapy and radiotherapy), the actuarial survival rate is 65% at 5 years and 59% at 10 years. In conclusion, correct staging, neoadjuvant treatment, living donor and priority on the liver transplant waiting list may lead to improved results.