Comparison of Liver Transplantation and Liver Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients with Portal Vein Tumor Thrombus Type I and Type II.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of liver transplantation (LT) and liver resection (LR) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) and to investigate risk factors affecting prognosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A total of 94 HCC patients with PVTT type I (segmental PVTT) and PVTT type II (lobar PVTT) were involved and divided into LR (n=47) and LT groups (n=47). Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared before and after inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). Prognostic factors for RFS and OS were explored.

RESULTS:

Two treatment groups were well-balanced using IPTW. In the entire cohort, LT provided a better prognosis than LR. Among patients with PVTT type I, RFS was better with LT (p=0.039); OS was not different significantly between LT and LR (p=0.093). In subgroup analysis of PVTT type I patients with α-fetoprotein (AFP) levels >200 ng/mL, LT elicited significantly longer median RFS (18.0 months vs. 2.1 months, p=0.022) and relatively longer median OS time (23.6 months vs. 9.8 months, p=0.065). Among patients with PVTT type II, no significant differences in RFS and OS were found between LT and LR (p=0.115 and 0.335, respectively). Multivariate analyses showed treatment allocation (LR), tumor size (>5 cm), AFP and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels to be risk factors of RFS and treatment allocation (LR), AFP and AST as risk factors for OS.

CONCLUSION:

LT appeared to afford a better prognosis for HCC with PVTT type I than LR, especially in patients with AFP levels >200 ng/mL.

• Authors: Jia Yu Lv, Ning Ning Zhang, Ya Wei Du, Ying Wu, Tian Qiang Song, Ya Min Zhang, Yan Qu, Yu Xin Liu, Jie Gu, Ze Yu Wang, Yi Bo Qiu, Bing Yang, Da Zhi Tian, Qing Jun Guo, Li Zhang, Ji San Sun, Yan Xie, Zheng Lu Wang, Xin Sun, Wen Tao Jiang, Wei Lu
• Journal: Yonsei medical journal (Yonsei Med J) Vol. 62 Issue 1 Pg. 29-40 (Jan 2021) ISSN: 1976-2437 [Electronic] Korea (South)
• PMID: 33381932 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)
• Copyright: © Copyright: Yonsei University College of Medicine 2021.

Chemical References

• alpha-Fetoproteins

Topics

• Adult
• Carcinoma, Hepatocellular (complications, metabolism, pathology, surgery)
• Female
• Hepatectomy
• Humans
• Liver Neoplasms (complications, metabolism, pathology, surgery)
• Liver Transplantation
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Portal Vein (pathology)
• Prognosis
• Retrospective Studies
• Risk Factors
• Thrombosis (complications)
• alpha-Fetoproteins (metabolism)