Intent-to-treat analysis of liver transplant for hepatocellular carcinoma in the MELD era: impact of hepatitis C and advanced status

Abstract

Background/aim: Liver transplantation is a well-recognized treatment for non-resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, the overall survival and waiting list removal rates for hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related HCC have not been assessed.

Methods: The present study included 11,146 patients with HCC and 64,788 patients without HCC, listed for liver transplantation on the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients database between 2003 and 2010.

Results: In a multivariate analysis, HCV infection was an independent predictor of being transplanted or remaining on the waiting list in HCC candidates (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.60-0.71, p < 0.001). However, patients in the advanced status (model for end-stage liver disease score over 20, tumor stage exceed tumor-node-metastasis stage II, or alpha fetoprotein lover 400 ng/ml) but without HCV had better post-transplant survival than patients in the advanced status and with HCV (64 vs. 47% at 5 years, p < 0.001), and comparable survival to patients with HCV but not in the advanced status (62%, p = 0.461).

Conclusions: HCC candidates with HCV infection are more likely to be transplanted, remain on the waiting list for longer, and have worse post-transplant survival. Patients in the advanced status but without HCV also could share a similar post-transplant survival to those not in the advanced status but with HCV.