Transplantation for HCC: Who, When & How?

The panel begins by discussing the multidisciplinary pre-transplant evaluation process, which assesses factors such as liver function, comorbidities, surgical risk, and the availability of psychosocial support. Once a patient is listed for transplant, they enter a system that prioritizes those with the highest Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score. During the waiting period, several comorbidities should be carefully monitored. Dr. Seal explores the impact of portal vein hypertension and portal vein thrombosis, explaining how these conditions may necessitate intraoperative thrombectomy or bypass. Dr. Patton and Dr. Young focus on considerations for using anticoagulation in patients with a high baseline bleeding risk and selecting the appropriate anticoagulant for patients listed for transplant.

For patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), eligibility for MELD exception points may depend on factors such as time spent on the waiting list, adherence to the Milan criteria, and the presence of extrahepatic complications of liver disease. The panel also discusses bridging therapies to transplant, including Y90 and TACE. In the peri-transplant phase, they highlight innovations such as living donor transplants, liver perfusion pumps, and the use of hepatitis C- and HIV-positive organs. Finally, the discussion turns to post-transplant considerations, including surgical complications, organ rejection, immunosuppression, predictors of HCC recurrence, and long-term surveillance.