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

摘要

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.