The survival and value of liver transplantation for liver carcinoma: a single-center experience

Early steroid withdrawal after liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To evaluate the impact of early steroid withdrawal on the incidence of rejection, tumor recurrence and complications after liver transplantation for advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODS: Fifty-four patients underwent liver transplantation for advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma from April 2003 to June 2005. These cases were divided into a steroid-withdrawal group (group A, n = 28) and a steroid-maintenance group (group B, n = 26). In group A, steroid was withdrawn 3 mo after transplantation. In group B, steroid was continuously used postoperatively. The incidence of rejection, 6-mo and 1-year recurrence rate of carcinoma, 1-year survival rate, mean serum tacrolimus trough level, and liver and kidney function were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS: In the two groups, no statistical difference was observed in the incidence of rejection (14.3 vs 11.5%, P > 0.05), mean serum tacrolimus trough levels (6.9 ± 1.4 vs 7.1 ± 1.1 μg/L, P > 0.05), liver and kidney function after 6 mo [alanine aminotransferase (ALT): 533 ± 183 vs 617 ± 217 nka/L, P > 0.05; creatinine: 66 ± 18 vs 71 ± 19 μmol/L, P > 0.05], 6-mo recurrence rate of carcinoma (25.0 vs 42.3%, P > 0.05), and 1-year survival rate (64.2 vs 46.1%, P > 0.05). The 1-year tumor recurrence rate (39.2 vs 69.2%, P < 0.05), serum cholesterol level (3.9 ± 1.8 vs 5.9 ± 2.6 mmol/L, P < 0.01) and fasting blood sugar (5.1 ± 2.1 vs 8.9 ± 3.6 mmol/L, P < 0.01) were significantly different. These were lower in the steroid-withdrawal group than in the steroid-maintenance group.

CONCLUSION: Early steroid withdrawal was safe after liver transplantation in patients with advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma. When steroids were withdrawn 3 mo post-operation, the incidence of rejection did not increase, and there was no demand to maintain tacrolimus at a high level. In contrast, the tumor recurrence rate and the potential of adverse effects decreased significantly. This may have led to an increase in long-term survival rate.

Surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in China: surgical techniques, indications, and outcomes

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Surgery remains the most effective treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While resection and liver transplantation achieve the best outcomes in patients with small HCC, controversy surrounds treatment of large HCC, HCC with portal vein tumor thrombus, and HCC with hypersplenism.

PATIENT/METHODS

From January 1988 to December 2002, 2,102 patients with large HCC underwent hepatectomy in our hospital. The traditional resection method was used on 959 patients, after which the improved new method was used on 1,143 patients. Meanwhile, from January 1990 until December 2003, hepatic resection +/- thrombectomy has been performed in 438 patients with HCC and portal vein tumor thrombus. Among them, 286 patients showed portal vein tumor thrombus located in the primary and secondary branch of the main portal vein (group A), and 152 patients showed portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) involved in the main portal vein (group B). Additionally, out of 204 HCC patients with cirrhotic hypersplenism, 94 patients had hepatectomy and splenectomy, and 100 patients had only hepatectomy without hospital death.

RESULTS

The 3- and 5-year survival after resection of large HCCs (over 5 cm) with improved new method in China was between 50.7 and 58.8% and 27.9 and 38.7%, respectively. Tumor recurrence in the liver within 1 year after hepatic resection + thrombectomie was detected in 45% of group A and in 78.8% in group B. The cumulative 5-year overall survival rates were 18.1% for group A and 0% for group B. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival in HCC plus portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) was 58.7, 22.7, and 18.1%. The hepatectomy/splenectomy group had a 5-year tumor-free survival rate of 37.2% and the hepatectomy group alone had 27.2%.

CONCLUSION

The new resection methods, hepatic resection + thrombectomy and hepatectomy + splenectomy, are very effective treatments for large HCC, HCC with portal vein tumor thrombus, and HCC with hypersplenism, respectively. Local treatment modalities, e.g. percutaneous ethanol injection, cryosurgery, and radiofrequency ablation as well as microwave coagulation are used in patients with poor liver function in small and large HCCs.