Recipient prioritization and graft choice in liver transplantation for colorectal liver metastasis

Liver transplantation for metastatic colorectal cancer has been shown to be efficacious in the well selected patient. In the United States, there remains controversy on the appropriate selection criteria and optimal graft type to be utilized in these patients. Our group advocates for strict recipient selection and early access to quality grafts for these recipients.

In the past two years, there has been an explosion of centers reporting outcomes after liver transplantation for colorectal liver metastases. In North America, the publications have focused on single center experiences. The group in Oslo has reported their long-term outcomes of all transplanted patients. The TransMet randomized controlled trial has demonstrated efficacy of liver transplantation with chemotherapy over chemotherapy alone.

Liver transplantation for metastatic colorectal cancer is an efficacious procedure for the well selected patient. Regardless of graft type, potential liver transplant recipients with liver limited unresectable colorectal liver metastases should be evaluated with a strict criterion to determine eligibility. Once eligible, patients should receive early access to high quality grafts.