Combining F-18-FDG positron emission tomography with Up-to-seven criteria for selecting suitable liver transplant patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

The Up-to-seven (UTS) criteria (sum of tumor size and number not exceeding 7) for indicating liver transplantation (LT) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were originally based on explant pathology features and absence of microvascular invasion (MVI). F-18-fludeoxyglucose (F-18-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) was shown to indicate the risk of MVI and tumor recurrence. The aim of this study was to analyze the prognostic significance of the clinical UTS criteria when being combined with PET-status of the tumor. Data of 116 liver transplant patients were subject to retrospective analysis. Five-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates in patients meeting (n = 85) and exceeding (n = 21) the radiographic UTS criteria were 81% and 55.1%, respectively (p = 0.014). In the UTS In subset, RFS was significantly better in PET-negative (94.9%) than in PET-positive patients (48.3%;p < 0.001). In the UTS Out subset, 5-year RFS rates were 87.1% and 19% in patients with non-F-18-FDG-avid and F-18-FDG-avid tumors (p < 0.001), respectively. Positive PET-status was identified as the only independent clinical predictor of tumor recurrence in beyond UTS patients (Hazard ratio [HR] 19.25;p < 0.001). Combining radiographic UTS criteria with FDG-PET may safely expand the HCC selection criteria for LT

Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma - non-cancer factors and implications for improving outcome beyond standard tumor criteria

Liver transplantation (LT) is recognized as best treatment option in patients with early hepatocellular cancer (HCC) in underlying liver cirrhosis. Apart from tumor size and number implemented in the Milan criteria, which are current worldwide standards for patient selection, several biological tumor factors have been identified to affect cancer-specific outcome. In particular, grading and vascular tumor invasions were shown to correlate with aggressive biological tumor behavior and poor survival following LT. Identifying tumors with favorable biology is one important approach for expanding the pool of eligible liver recipients beyond the Milan burden limits. Improving the immunological state and condition for appropriate defense against circulating cancer cell attack may be another important prognostic aspect. Therefore, there is increasing interest in non-cancer factors related to the peritransplant period that may influence the oncological outcome by providing negative immunomodulatory actions. Considering and modulation of these non-HCC factors of prognosis might contribute in safely expanding the HCC LT selection criteria