Liver transplantation for metastatic liver malignancies

Evolution of transplant oncology indications: a single-institution experience over 40 years

Liver transplantation (LT) for uncommon tumoral indications has changed across the decades, with impaired results reported in the first historical series mainly for non-tumoral-related causes. Recently, renewed interest in liver transplant oncology has been reported. The study aims to analyze a mono-center experience exploring the evolution and the impact on patient survival of LT in uncommon tumoral indications. A retrospective analysis of 851 LT performed during 1982-2023 was investigated. 33/851 (3.9%) uncommon tumoral indications were reported: hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on non-cirrhotic liver (n = 14), peri-hilar (phCCA) (n = 8) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (i-CCA) (n = 3), metastatic disease (n = 4), hepatic hemangioendothelioma (n = 2), and benign tumor (n = 2). Uncommon tumoral indications were mainly transplanted during the period 1982-1989, with a complete disappearance after the year 2000 and a slight rise in the last years. Poor outcomes were reported: 5-year survival rates were 28.6%, 25.0%, 0%, and 0% in the case of HCC on non-cirrhotic liver, phCCA, i-CCA, and metastases, respectively. However, the cause of patient death was often related to non-tumoral conditions. LT for uncommon oncological diseases has increased worldwide in recent decades. Historical series report poor survival outcomes despite more recent data showing promising results. Hence, the decision to transplant these patients should be under the risk and overall benefit of the patient. The results of the ongoing protocol studies are expected to confirm the validity of the unconventional tumor indications.

Adult-to-adult living-donor liver transplantation: The experience of the Université catholique de Louvain

BACKGROUND

Liver transplantation is the treatment for end-stage liver diseases and well-selected malignancies. The allograft shortage may be alleviated with living donation. The initial UCLouvain experience of adult living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is presented.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of 64 adult-to-adult LDLTs performed at our institution between 1998 and 2016 was conducted. The median age of 29 (45.3%) females and 35 (54.7%) males was 50.2 years (interquartile range, IQR 32.9-57.5). Twenty-two (34.4%) recipients had no portal hypertension. Three (4.7%) patients had a benign and 33 (51.6%) a malignant tumor [19 (29.7%) hepatocellular cancer, 11 (17.2%) secondary cancer and one (1.6%) each hemangioendothelioma, hepatoblastoma and embryonal liver sarcoma]. Median donor and recipient follow-ups were 93 months (IQR 41-159) and 39 months (22-91), respectively.

RESULTS

Right and left hemi-livers were implanted in 39 (60.9%) and 25 (39.1%) cases, respectively. Median weights of right- and left-liver were 810 g (IQR 730-940) and 454 g (IQR 394-534), respectively. Graft-to-recipient weight ratios (GRWRs) were 1.17% (right, IQR 0.98%-1.4%) and 0.77% (left, 0.59%-0.95%). One- and five-year patient survivals were 85% and 71% (right) vs. 84% and 58% (left), respectively. One- and five-year graft survivals were 74% and 61% (right) vs. 76% and 53% (left), respectively. The patient and graft survival of right and left grafts and of very small (<0.6%), small (0.6%-0.79%) and large (≥0.8%) GRWR were similar. Survival of very small grafts was 86% and 86% at 3- and 12-month. No donor died while five (7.8%) developed a Clavien-Dindo complication IIIa, IIIb or IV. Recipient morbidity consisted mainly of biliary and vascular complications; three (4.7%) recipients developed a small-for-size syndrome according to the Kyushu criteria.

CONCLUSIONS

Adult-to-adult LDLT is a demanding procedure that widens therapeutic possibilities of many hepatobiliary diseases. The donor procedure can be done safely with low morbidity. The recipient operation carries a major morbidity indicating an important learning curve. Shifting the risk from the donor to the recipient, by moving from the larger right-liver to the smaller left-liver grafts, should be further explored as this policy makes donor hepatectomy safer and may stimulate the development of transplant oncology.

Living donor liver transplantation with two-stage hepatectomy for patients with isolated, irresectable colorectal liver-the LIVER-T(W)O-HEAL study

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer is the third most common malignancy worldwide. The occurrence of liver metastases worsens the prognosis of the patient significantly if the tumor burden is not resectable. Liver transplantation might be an option for otherwise irresectable colorectal liver metastases. In this study, we evaluate the role of two-stage hepatectomy in combination with a left-lateral living donor liver transplantation.

METHODS

Patients with irresectable liver metastases having a stable disease or tumor regression after at least 8 weeks of systemic chemotherapy without an extrahepatic tumor burden (except resectable lung metastases) are suitable for study inclusion. A randomization is not planned since the control arm (systemic chemotherapy) is well established and the superiority of the transplantation procedure has to be expected. The surgical treatment consists of two steps: in a first operation, a left hemihepatectomy in the recipient will be performed. At this place, the left lateral liver lobe (segments II and III) of a living donor will be transplanted. To induce a growth of the graft, a portal vein ligation will be performed. Approximately after 2 weeks, the removal of the right hemiliver will be conducted if the control imaging shows a sufficient growth of the graft.

RESULTS

The patient recruitment is ongoing. In total, three patients have been already transplanted with this protocol. Up to now, they are tumor-free and in good clinical health.

DISCUSSION

With the design of the LIVER-T(W)O-HEAL study, it might be possible to offer patients with otherwise irresectable colorectal liver metastases a curative treatment option. The key point of this study will be, most probably, the patient's selection.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Registered at Clinical Trials; NCT03488953 ; registered on April 5, 2018.

Liver transplant for metastatic pancreatoblastoma: 7-year event-free survival after chemotherapy, pancreatectomy, complete hepatectomy, and liver transplant

Pancreatoblastoma is a rare malignant tumor in children. Surgical resection of the tumor is necessary for cure; however, due to its aggressive nature, it is often unresectable at presentation due to tumor size, local invasion, and/or metastasis. Because it is a rare tumor, there is currently no standard treatment regimen. We report a case of a 4-year-old boy who presented with metastatic pancreatoblastoma with multiple large metastases involving all four sectors of the liver. We began treatment with chemotherapy (cisplatin, 5FU, vincristine, and doxorubicin), which significantly reduced the tumor burden in both the pancreas and liver. We then performed a staged subtotal pancreatectomy, complete hepatectomy, and living donor left lateral segment liver transplant. This was followed by postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. Our patient is alive and healthy and has now been tumor-free for 7 years with no tumor relapse.

Liver transplantation for metastatic liver tumors

Liver transplantation for metastatic neuroendocrine tumor in the liver used to be the main reason for liver transplantation for metastatic liver tumor. It is reported that liver transplantation in selected patients with non-resectable metastatic neuroendocrine tumor in the liver had favorable outcomes equivalent to liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma. Recently, liver transplantation for colorectal liver metastasis has attracted attention. According to the SECA study in Oslo, liver transplantation for non-resectable colorectal liver metastasis had a high rate of recurrence but a favorable prognosis. Further discussion on patient selection, attempts at immunosuppressive therapy, and combination with chemotherapy and treatment at the time of relapse are required in order to improve the outcomes of liver transplantation for metastatic liver tumor.

New Perspectives in the Treatment of Colorectal Metastases

BACKGROUND

In recent years, the management of metastatic colorectal cancer has become more aggressive and more multidisciplinary. New treatment options have been proposed in addition to the standard approach of resection of liver metastases and chemotherapy.

SUMMARY

Selected patients with synchronous limited peritoneal and liver disease (peritoneal cancer index <12 and <3 liver metastases) can be scheduled for aggressive treatment, including cytoreductive surgery, hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, and liver resection. This approach has achieved survival benefits, even if the treatment is unlikely to be curative in most patients. Moreover, liver transplantation has been recently reconsidered for liver-only metastases, resulting in the de facto reinstatement of the chance of surgery for some unresectable patients. Even though indications for liver transplantation remain to be standardized, preliminary studies have reported extremely promising outcomes. Radio-embolization has proven to be an effective additional tool for the treatment of unresectable tumors, and its potential role in association with chemotherapy for resectable disease is currently being investigated. Stereotactic body radiation therapy is a safe, non-invasive, and effective therapeutic option for patients with inoperable oligometastatic disease. Thanks to recent technical progress, high radiation doses can now be delivered in fewer fractions with excellent local disease control and a low risk of radiation-induced liver injury. Finally, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for colorectal metastases has become more effective, with results approaching those of surgical series. New interstitial treatments, such as microwave ablation and irreversible electroporation, could overcome some of the limitations of RFA, thereby further expanding indications and optimizing outcomes.

KEY MESSAGES

Currently, a multidisciplinary approach to patients with colorectal liver metastases is mandatory. Aggressive surgical treatments should be integrated with all the available non-surgical options to maximize disease control and patient survival.

Management of patients with colorectal liver metastasis in eleven questions and answers

INTRODUCTION

Colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) is the most frequent indication for liver resection in many centers. Recent improvements in oncology, surgery, interventional radiology, pathology and anesthesiology allow curative treatment in a larger proportion of patients with CRLM. Areas covered: We illustrate the various aspects of the management of CRLM through 11 questions that summarize the topic, from the current obtained survival to future perspectives such as transplantation. The limits of a curative treatment are also presented from different angles, such as the benefits of pathology, the surgical options for extreme resections, the available chemotherapies and their efficacy, or the non-surgical ablative treatments. Expert commentary: Given the increasing therapeutic possibilities, we strengthen the importance to analyze the situation of each patient with CRLM in a dedicated multidisciplinary team, in order to offer the best individualized treatment combination.

Liver transplantation for secondary liver tumours

Cautious expansion of indications for liver transplantation