Comprehensive treatment of liver cancer recurrence and metastasis after liver transplantation

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of comprehensive treatment for liver cancer recurrence and metastasis after liver transplantation, and investigate the risk factors affecting the lifespan of patients with liver cancer recurrence and metastasis. Methods Of 29 patients with liver cancer recurrence and metastasis after liver transplantation, 11 patients in the comprehensive treatment group were treated by TACE, microwave coagulation, radiotherapy or hepatectomy, and the remaining 18 patients were classified into chemotherapy group. The differences in efficacy between the 2 treatment modalities were compared, and the factors influencing the patients' lifespan were analyzed. Results Compared with patients in the chemotherapy group, patients in the comprehensive treatment group had significantly longer lifespan after liver cancer recurrence and metastasis (t = 5. 617, P < 0.01). TNM staging, pathological classification, time of postoperative recurrence and metastasis and treatment method were the factors that influence the lifespan of patients with liver cancer recurrence and metastasis after liver transplantation (t =2.843, 3.061,22.781,5.617, P <0.01). Conclusions Comprehensive treatment could prolong the lifespan of patients with liver cancer recurrence and metastasis after liver transplantation. The efficacy of comprehensive treatment is superior to that of the chemotherapy. Key words: Liver cancer; Liver transplantation; Recurrence; Metastasis; Comprehensive treatment