Blood Transfusions and Tumor Biopsy May Increase HCC Recurrence Rates after Liver Transplantation

Introduction. Beneath tumor grading and vascular invasion, nontumor related risk factors for HCC recurrence after liver transplantation (LT) have been postulated. Potential factors were analyzed in a large single center experience. Material and Methods. This retrospective analysis included 336 consecutive patients transplanted for HCC. The following factors were analyzed stratified for vascular invasion: immunosuppression, rejection therapy, underlying liver disease, age, gender, blood transfusions, tumor biopsy, caval replacement, waiting time, Child Pugh status, and postoperative complications. Variables with a potential prognostic impact were included in a multivariate analysis. Results. The 5- and 10-year patient survival rates were 70 and 54%. The overall 5-year recurrence rate was 48% with vascular invasion compared to 10% without (p < 0.001). Univariate analysis stratified for vascular invasion revealed age over 60, pretransplant tumor biopsy, and the application of blood transfusions as significant risk factors for tumor recurrence. Blood transfusions remained the only significant risk factor in the multivariate analysis. Recurrence occurred earlier and more frequently in correlation with the number of applied transfusions. Conclusion. Tumor related risk factors are most important and can be influenced by patient selection. However, it might be helpful to consider nontumor related risk factors, identified in the present study for further optimization of the perioperative management.