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Risk factors for fatal recurrence of liver transplant recipients with hepatocellular carcinoma in the first year

  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Cancer Research

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the clinicopathological risk factors for fatal recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in orthotopic liver transplant recipients in the first year.

Methods

From April 2002 to October 2005, 303 recipients who received orthotopic liver transplantation for HCC were reviewed. Of These patients, those who demonstrated diffuse intra-hepatic or multiple systemic recurrent lesions and died within 1 y after surgery were investigated (fatal recurrence group, 48 cases). The remaining patients were designated as the control group, and the two groups were compared for clinicopathologic risk factors by logistic regression analysis.

Results

Among the 303 patients reviewed, 48 patients were enrolled in the fatal recurrence group (15.84%). Multivariate analysis between the fatal recurrence group and control group showed that the presence of vascular invasion, tumor size greater than 6.5 cm, and pre-operative serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level greater than 1000 μg/L were the risk factors in the fatal recurrence group. 85.71% of the patients who had all the three risk factors, 37.84% of those who had two risk factors, 13.64% of those who had one risk factors, and 6.71% of those who had none risk factors died because of recurrence within 1 y after transplantation.

Conclusion

Three distinct risk factors attributed to fatal recurrence of liver transplant recipients for HCC are vascular invasion, tumor size ≥6.5 cm, and pre-operative serum AFP level ≥1000 μg/L. The high risk HCC patients with two or more risk factors should not to be the candidates for liver transplantation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Transplantation, the General Hospital of Chinese People’s Armed Police Forces, Beijing, 100039, China

    Zou Wei-long  (邹卫龙), Zang Yun-jin  (藏运金), Chen Xin-guo  (陈新国) & Shen Zhong-yang  (沈中阳)

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  1. Zou Wei-long  (邹卫龙)
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  2. Zang Yun-jin  (藏运金)
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  3. Chen Xin-guo  (陈新国)
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  4. Shen Zhong-yang  (沈中阳)
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Correspondence to Zou Wei-long  (邹卫龙).

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Zou, Wl., Zang, Yj., Chen, Xg. et al. Risk factors for fatal recurrence of liver transplant recipients with hepatocellular carcinoma in the first year. Chin. J. Cancer Res. 19, 165–170 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11670-007-0165-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11670-007-0165-7

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