Objective: To analyze the risk factors influencing the prognosis of orthotopic liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and sum up the relevant clinical experience in diagnosis and treatment of HCC.
Methods: The clinical data of 198 HCC patients, 177 males and 21 females, aged 49 (24-83), were analyzed.
Results: The 0.5-, 1-, and 2-year survival rates were 89%, 78%, and 65 respectively. The rates of disease-free survival (DFS) were 85%, 73, and 67% respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that tumor size, presence of vascular invasion, Edmondson grade, TNM classification, and preoperative alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were significantly related to DFS, and the 4 foregoing factors were also related to the survival rate. Cox regression analysis suggested that presence of vascular invasion was an independent prognostic factor of survival rate and DFS.
Conclusion: Vascular invasion plays a leading role in evaluating the prognosis of orthotopic liver transplantation for HCC. It is important to discover the micro-metastasis and explore more effective approaches to prevent recurrence after transplantation.