MTM-HCC at Previous Liver Resection as a Predictor of Overall Survival in Salvage Liver Transplantation

Abstract

Objectives: Salvage liver transplantation (sLT) is considered an effective method to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence. This multicenter research aimed to identify the prognostic factors associated with recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) after sLT.

Material and methods: A retrospective analysis of 114 patients who had undergone sLT for recurrent HCC between February 2012 and September 2020 was performed. The baseline and clinicopathological data of the patients were collected.

Results: The 1-, 3-, and 5-year RFS rates after sLT were 88.9%, 75.2%, and 69.2%, respectively, and the OS rates were 96.4%, 78.3%, and 70.8%. A time from liver resection (LR) to recurrence < 1 year, disease beyond the Milan criteria at sLT and macrotrabecular massive (MTM)-HCC were identified as risk factors for RFS and were further identified as independent risk factors. A time from LR to recurrence < 1 year, disease beyond the Milan criteria at sLT and MTM-HCC were also risk factors for OS and were further identified as independent risk factors.

Conclusions: Compared with primary liver transplantation (pLT), more prognostic factors are available from patients who had undergone LR. We suggest that in cases of HCC recurrence within 1 year after LR, disease beyond the Milan criteria at sLT and MTM-HCC patients, sLT should be used with caution.

Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma; Overall survival; Salvage liver transplantation.