Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has been considered the best treatment option for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Because of a steadily increasing waiting time, a noteworthy proportion of patients are excluded from OLT because of tumor progression. A 20% and more dropout rate from the waiting list has recently been reported. In this prospective study, we evaluated the effect of preoperative transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) on preventing tumor progression while on the waiting list in patients meeting current selection criteria (solitary lesion < 5 cm, three lesions < 3 cm). In addition, we analyzed the outcome of a separate group of patients with advanced-stage HCC outside the selection criteria but with at least 50% tumor reduction after TACE (downstaging) to expand current criteria. Forty-eight patients met the selection criteria and were eligible for this study. Seven patients are still on the waiting list; 41 underwent OLT. None of these patients had to be removed from the list because of tumor progression after a mean waiting time of 178 days (23 patients >180 days). The 1-, 2-, and 5-year intention-to-treat survival was 98%, 98%, and 94%. The outcome after OLT was also excellent with 1-, 2-, and 5-year survival rates of 98%, 98%, and 93%. Tumor recurrence occurred only in 1 patient (2.4%). Fifteen patients with advanced-stage HCC were included in this study. Three developed a tumor progression and had to be removed from the list (20% dropout rate). Despite tumor reduction before OLT, these patients had a significantly less favorable outcome in the intention-to-treat analysis as well as in the posttransplantation survival. Tumor recurrence was seen in 30% of patients after OLT. In conclusion, TACE followed by OLT is associated with an excellent outcome in selected patients. Furthermore, TACE is highly efficacious in preventing tumor progression while waiting for OLT. Although TACE reduced tumor preoperatively, it failed to show a beneficial effect on patient survival in advanced-stage HCCs. (Liver Transpl 2003;9:557-563.)H epatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide, with an estimated annual incidence of about 1 million cases. 1-4 Liver cirrhosis, in particular caused by hepatitis B and C virus and iron overload states, constitutes the main risk factor for HCC. A variety of therapeutic modalities have been tried in the treatment of HCC, but orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has been considered as the only curative treatment option because OLT has been claimed to simultaneously cure the malignant disease and replace the premalignant cirrhotic liver. However, early experiences with OLT in the setting of HCC were disappointing, in particular because of a recurrence rate of up to 80% and consequently dismal long-term survival results. These were well below the survival rates of patients who underwent transplantation for nonmalignant disorders. 5,6 Several small studies, however, showed that early or incidentally found HCCs did not adversely a...

19 patients (3.7%). Long-term success was observed in 77% of patients with AS. In patients with NAS, partial long-term responses could be achieved in 63% of patients. Five patients (6.2%) required a percutaneous and 6 (7.4%) patients a surgical approach.In conclusion, the long-term outcome for patients with post-liver transplant biliary strictures after endoscopic treatment is excellent, especially for patients with AS. Development of NAS reduces graft but not patient survival after endoscopic therapy. Liver Transpl 12:718-725, 2006.

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is characterized by high short-term mortality. Liver transplantation (LT) is a potential therapy for patients who do not improve with supportive measures, but the efficacy of LT has not been shown. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of LT and to determine the postoperative outcomes of patients with ACLF. All patients referred to our liver unit between 2002 and 2010 were registered in a database. The diagnosis of ACLF was made in accordance with the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver consensus. The post-LT outcomes were compared with the outcomes of a cohort of patients with chronic liver disease who underwent transplantation for other indications during the same period. One hundred forty four of 238 patients fulfilled the ACLF criteria. In an intention-to-treat analysis, the median transplant-free survival time was 48 days. Multiorgan failure was the most common cause of death. Ninety-four patients (65%) were evaluated for LT, 71 patients (49%) were listed, and 33 patients (23%) finally underwent deceased donor LT; this resulted in a wait-list mortality rate of 54%. Patients who developed infectious complications (particularly pneumonia and/or sepsis) and patients who received renal replacement therapy or mechanical ventilation were less likely to undergo LT. The 1-and 5-year survival rates of 87% and 82% were comparable to the rates for non-ACLF patients.In conclusion, this study shows that LT remains the only therapeutic option for the vast majority of patients with ACLF. However, LT was feasible in less than one fourth of the patients with a 5-year survival rate greater than 80%.

The aim of our study was to examine whether an extensive surveillance protocol will promote early diagnosis and improved survival in patients with de novo cancer following liver transplantation (LT). Of 779 consecutive LT recipients, 96 (12.3%) developed 105 malignancies. The cumulative risk for the development of de novo cancer was 10%, 24%, 32% and 42% at 5, 10, 15 and 20 years after LT, respectively. The most frequent tumor types were skin (17%), lung (16%), oropharyngeal (11%) and prostate cancer (11%). The overall standard incidence ratio as compared to that of the general population was 1.9 (95% CI: 1.5-2.3). The median survival of patients with de novo non-skin cancers was 3.1 years after diagnosis. Only patients with skin cancers and solid tumors, diagnosed at early stages, showed an excellent outcome. After introducing an intensified surveillance protocol, the detection rate of de novo cancers increased from 4.9% to 13% and more de novo malignancies were diagnosed in earlier stages. For non-skin cancers, the median tumor-related survival significantly improved from 1.2 to 3.3 years as well as the median overall survival post-LT. This study indicates that an extensive tumor surveillance program is highly recommendable in LT recipients.