Hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after liver transplantation: risk factors, targeted surveillance and management options

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a well-recognized indication for liver transplantation (LT), with improving graft and patient survival rates due to medical and surgical advancements over time. Despite the implementation of selection criteria to ensure the highest transplant benefit, post-LT recurrence of HCC is not uncommon and is often associated with poor outcomes. Therefore, a post-transplant surveillance strategy appears to be a cost-effective approach, particularly in the early post-surgery period when the recurrence rate is high. Although specific guidelines are still lacking, emerging strategies tailored to pre-transplant tumor history and explant pathology show promise. Moreover, new immunosuppressive therapy schemes and aggressive management of post-transplant medical complications can be implemented to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. Finally, multimodal oncological strategies are increasingly used to improve survival even after cancer recurrence. This paper reviews the evidence on HCC recurrence after LT, providing insights into risk factors, targeted surveillance, and management strategies.