Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2026
A Hepatocellular Cancer Patient-Derived Organoid Xenograft Model to Investigate Impact of Liver Regeneration on Tumor Growth
Published on: February 2, 2024
Liberal policy in living donor liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: lessons learned
Georgios C Sotiropoulos1, Hauke Lang, George Sgourakis
1Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45122, Essen, Germany. Georgios.sotiropoulos@uni-essen.de
Background:
Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that do not fulfil accepted tumor criteria continues to be a matter of controversy. The aim of this study was to evaluate survival and prognostic factors associated with a liberal exclusionary policy.
Material And Methods:
This is an analysis of data collected prospectively on 57 HCC patients who underwent LDLT at our institution between April 1998 and January 2007.
Results:
Overall 3-year survival was 62%; this increased to 71% when 45-day mortality was excluded from the analysis. Age proved to be a predictor of survival irrespective of the 45-day mortality. In contrast, the Model for End stage Liver Disease (MELD) score predicted survival only when 45-day mortality was included in the analysis, while alpha fetoprotein (AFP) level predicted survival only when it was excluded. Significant cut-off values were patient age of over 60 years, MELD score above 22, and AFP level greater than 400 ng/ml. A scoring system was developed. Survival rate at 3 years--including 45-day mortality--was 72% for score =2 and 41% for score >2 (P = 0.0146). When 45-day mortality was excluded, the survival rate at 3 years was 90% for score =2 and 32% for score >2 (P = 0.00002).
Conclusions:
Our results could further enhance current guidelines on age, MELD score, and AFP level for patients with HCC being evaluated to undergo LDLT.
