Transplant versus resection for the management of hepatocellular carcinoma meeting Milan Criteria in the MELD exception era at a single institution in a UNOS region with short wait times

• Authors: MALCOLM H. Squires, Emory University; STEVEN I. Hanish, Emory University; SARAH B. Fisher, Emory University; CRISTEN Garrett, Emory University; David Kooby, Emory University; Juan Sarmiento, Emory University; Kenneth Cardona, Emory University; Andrew Adams, Emory University; Maria Russell, Emory University; Joseph Magliocca, Emory University; Stuart Knechtle, Emory University; Charles Staley, Emory University; Shishir Maithel, Emory University
• Journal Title: Journal of Surgical Oncology
• Volume: Volume 109, Number 6
• Publisher: Wiley: 12 months | 2014-05-01, Pages 533-541
• Type of Work: Article | Post-print: After Peer Review
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/jso.23531
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Oncology; Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery; Health Sciences, Epidemiology
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Oncology; Surgery; waitlist time; liver transplant; hepatocellular carcinoma; hepatic resection; Milan Criteria; LONG-TERM SURVIVAL; HEPATITIS-C VIRUS; TO-TREAT ANALYSIS; LIVER RESECTION; RECURRENCE; THERAPY; INFECTION; CIRRHOSIS; OUTCOMES; BENEFIT

Abstract

Background: Management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) exception era remains regionally variable. Outcomes were compared for patients undergoing transplant versus resection at a single institution in a UNOS region with short wait times for organ availability. Methods: All patients who underwent resection of HCC from January 2000 to August 2012 and patients who underwent transplant post-January 2006, during the Milan Criteria (MC)-based MELD exception policy for HCC, were identified. Primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Results: Two hundred fifty-seven patients were analyzed, of whom 131 underwent transplant and 126 underwent resection. All transplant patients met MC; 45 (36%) resection patients met MC. Median follow-up time was 30 months. Median wait time to transplant was 55 days; no patients dropped off the waitlist while awaiting an organ. Among patients meeting MC, transplant demonstrated significantly greater 5-year OS (65.7% vs. 43.8%; P = 0.005) and RFS (85.3% vs. 22.7%; P < 0.001) versus resection. For patients with hepatitis C, transplant (n = 87) demonstrated significantly improved 5-year outcomes compared to patients meeting MC who underwent resection (n = 21; OS: 63.5% vs. 23.3%; P = 0.001; RFS: 83.5% vs. 23.7%; P < 0.001). Conclusion: In a region with short waitlist times for organ availability, liver transplant is associated with improved survival compared to resection for HCC within MC and should be considered for all patients meeting MC, particularly those with hepatitis C.