Outcomes of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma are determined in multidisciplinary team meetings.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To analyze overall survival (OS) rates for the three curative treatments of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on an intention-to-treat (ITT) basis. METHODS: Cohort study based on data from a multidisciplinary team meeting (MDT) dedicated to HCC. From 2006 to 2013, we included every patient with newly diagnosed HCC, for whom curative treatment (liver transplantation (LT), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), surgical resection (SR)) was decided upon. RESULTS: We included 387 consecutive patients. LT was decided in 136 cases, RFA in 131 cases, SR in 120 cases. Sixty-six percent of patients received the planned treatment. Five-year OS on an ITT basis were: 35% for the LT-group, 32% for the RFA-group, 34% for the SR-group (P = 0.77). In multivariate analyses, the main negative prognostic factors were not following the MDT decision (HR: 0.39, CI95% [0.27-0.54], P < 0.001), elevated alpha-fetoprotein level (HR: 0.63, CI95% [0.45-0.87], P = 0.005), being outside the Milan criteria (HR: 0.45, CI95% [0.31-0.65], P < 0.001). When curative treatment was performed, per-protocol 5-year OS were 64% for LT, 34% for RFA, 40% for SR. CONCLUSION: On an ITT basis, OS was similar whatever the type of curative treatment chosen in MDT. Negative prognostic factors were not following the MDT decision, elevated alpha-fetoprotein, being outside the Milan criteria. J. Surg. Oncol. 2017;115:330-336. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Rescue associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy after portal embolization: Our experience and literature review.

AIM: To report a single-center experience in rescue associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS), after failure of previous portal embolization. We also performed a literature review. METHODS: Between January 2014 and December 2015, every patient who underwent a rescue ALPPS procedure in Toulouse Rangueil University Hospital, France, was included. Every patient included had a project of major hepatectomy and a previous portal vein embolization (PVE) with insufficient future liver remnant to body weight ratio after the procedure. The ALPPS procedure was performed in two steps (ALPPS-1 and ALPPS-2), separated by an interval phase. ALPPS-2 was done within 7 to 9 d after ALPPS-1. To estimate the FLR, a computed tomography scan examination was performed 3 to 6 wk after the PVE procedure and 6 to 8 d after ALPPS-1. A transcystic stent was placed during ALPPS-1 and remained opened during the interval phase, in order to avoid biliary complications. Postoperative liver failure was defined using the 50-50 criteria. Postoperative complications were assessed according to the Dindo-Clavien Classification. RESULTS: From January 2014 to December 2015, 7 patients underwent a rescue ALPPS procedure. Median FLR before PVE, ALPPS-1 and ALPPS-2 were respectively 263 cc (221-380), 450 cc (372-506), and 660 cc (575-776). Median FLR/BWR before PVE, ALPPS-1 and ALPPS-2 were respectively 0.4% (0.3-0.5), 0.6% (0.5-0.8), and 1% (0.8-1.2). Median volume growth of FLR was 69% (18-92) after PVE, and 45% (36-82) after ALPPS-1. The combination of PVE and ALPPS induced a growth of median initial FLR of +408 cc (254-513), leading to an increase of +149% (68-199). After ALPPS-2, 4 patients had stage I-II complications. Three patients had more severe complications (one stage III, one stage IV and one death due to bowel perforation). Two patients suffered from postoperative liver failure according to the 50/50 criteria. None of our patients developed any biliary complication during the ALPPS procedure. CONCLUSION: Rescue ALPPS may be an alternative after unsuccessful PVE and could allow previously unresectable patients to reach surgery. Biliary drainage seems to reduce biliary complications.

Contribution of alpha-fetoprotein in liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is the main tumor biomarker available for the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although it is neither a good screening test nor an accurate diagnostic tool for HCC, it seems to be a possible prognostic marker. However, its contribution in liver transplantation for HCC has not been fully determined, although its use to predict recurrence after liver transplantation has been underlined by international societies. In an era of organ shortages, it could also have a key role in the selection of patients eligible for liver transplantation. Yet unanswered questions remain. First, the cut-off value of serum AFP above which liver transplantation should not be performed is still a subject of debate. We show that a concentration of 1000 ng/mL could be an exclusion criterion, whereas values of < 15 ng/mL indicate patients with an excellent prognosis whatever the size and number of tumors. Monitoring the dynamics of AFP could also prove useful. However, evidence is lacking regarding the values that should be used. Today, the real input of AFP seems to be its integration into new criteria to select patients eligible for a liver transplantation. These recent tools have associated AFP values with morphological criteria, thus refining pre-existing criteria, such as Milan, University of California, San Francisco, or "up-to-seven". We provide a review of the different criteria submitted within the past years. Finally, AFP can be used to monitor recurrence after transplantation, although there is little evidence to support this claim. Future challenges will be to draft new international guidelines to implement the use of AFP as a selection tool, and to determine a clear cut-off value above which liver transplantation should not be performed.