Liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients who have undergone prior renal transplantation

Abstract Background and Objectives Because renal transplantation recipients require immunosuppressive drugs, they have a higher incidence of subsequent malignancies. Among them, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is common. Although liver resection remains an option for curing HCC, the role of liver resection in renal transplantation recipients remains unclear. Methods A retrospective review of liver resection for newly diagnosed HCC in 680 patients was conducted. Among them, 18 patients had undergone prior renal transplantation (RT group). The patient background, tumor characteristics, early and long‐term results after liver resection were compared with the other 662 patients who had not previously undergone renal transplantation (non‐RT group). Results The patient's background characteristics were comparable between RT and non‐RT group. The tumor characteristics, postoperative morbidity, and mortality were not significantly different between the two groups. The 5‐year disease‐free survival rates in RT and non‐RT groups were 18.8% and 41.2%, respectively ( P = 0.242), whereas 5‐year actuarial survival rates in RT and non‐RT groups were 59.1% and 58.3%, respectively ( P = 0.738). Two patients lost their graft kidney 3 and 8 years after liver resection. Conclusion With careful protection of the graft kidney, liver resection is still a justified treatment option for HCC in patients who have undergone renal transplantation. J. Surg. Oncol. 2006;93: 273–278. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.