Role of alfa-fetoprotein in selection of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma waiting for liver transplantation.

Quirino Lai, Alfonso Wolfango Avolio, Tommaso Maria Manzia, Salvatore Agnes, Giuseppe Tisone, Pasquale Berloco, Massimo Rossi

Risultato della ricerca: Contributo in rivistaArticolo in rivistapeer review

19 Citazioni (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Milan criteria (MC) represent the most commonly adopted criteria for the selection of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) waiting for liver transplantation (LT). However, MC are exclusively based on morphological aspects. The aim of the present study was to evaluate pre-LT–detectable biological parameters, to compare them with morphological ones in terms of tumor recurrence prediction and patient survival. Methods: A cohort of 153 consecutive adult patients who underwent LT for HCC on cirrhosis from January 1999 to March 2009 was retrospectively analyzed. Results: HCC recurrence was observed in 12 patients (7.8%). At multivariate logistic regression analysis, serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was the unique independent negative risk factor for the development of HCC recurrence (odds ratio 2.0, p=0.03). Adopting a cutoff value of 210 ng/mL, patients who presented serum AFP ≥210 ng/mL showed a 5-year survival rate of 23.3% versus 76.2% observed in patients with pre-LT serum AFP <210 ng/mL (log-rank test: <0.0001). Conclusions: In our experience, AFP was the strongest predictor of HCC recurrence, stronger than tumor morphology. AFP could ameliorate the selection of LT candidates. Further studies to evaluate the combination of morphological and biological criteria are needed.
Lingua originaleEnglish
pagine (da-a)153-159
Numero di pagine7
RivistaTHE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MARKERS
Volume2011
DOI
Stato di pubblicazionePubblicato - 2011

Keywords

  • ALFA-FETOPROTEIN
  • HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA
  • LIVER TRANSPLANTATION
  • MILAN CRITERIA
  • OUTCOME
  • RECURRENCE

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