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Abstract Details
Management of hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after liver transplantation
Ann Hepatol. Jan-Feb 2022;27(1):100654. doi: 10.1016/j.aohep.2021.100654.Epub 2021 Dec 17.
1Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 1685 Highland Avenue, Suite 4224, Madison, WI 53705, United States. Electronic address: pagarwal@medicine.wisc.edu.
2Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 1685 Highland Avenue, Suite 4224, Madison, WI 53705, United States.
Abstract
Despite careful selection for liver transplantation (LT) of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), HCC may still recur after LT and is frequently associated with dismal outcome. Tumor factors, including serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), the presence of microvascular invasion, tumor grade/differentiation, and largest tumor size are amongst the most important predictors of recurrence after transplantation. The nature of recurrence can be highly variable, but often presents with extra-hepatic involvement. As such, management of patients with HCC can be challenging, and consensus guidelines are lacking. Curative options, with surgery or ablation, which may be applicable in patients with isolated intra-or extrahepatic metastases, offer the best chance for improved long-term outcome in patients with HCC recurrence after transplantation. Most patients with recurrence have unresectable disease, and may benefit from palliative treatments, including intra-arterial therapies and/or systemic therapy.