Can liver transplantation be applied for the treatment of liver cancer?

Unfavourable results and shortage of donor organs have led to restricted indication of liver transplantation for irresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. This review analyses the current state of experience in order to work out criteria for a more differentiated multimodal treatment including liver transplantation. New techniques of extended liver resection under hypothermic perfusion have to be considered in some conventionally irresectable tumors. Split-liver transplantation is a donor organ saving option which preserves the chance of transplantation in individual tumor patients without disadvantage for patients with benign diseases.