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BackgroundImmunocompromised individuals are highly susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Whether vaccine-induced immunity in these individuals involves the oral cavity, a primary site of infection, is presently unknown.MethodsImmunocompromised individuals (n=404) and healthy controls (n=82) participated in a prospective clinical trial encompassing two doses of the mRNA BNT162b2 vaccine. Immunocompromised individuals included primary immunodeficiencies (PID) and secondary immunodeficiencies caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT)/chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy (CAR-T), solid organ transplantation (SOT), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Saliva and serum samples were collected at four time points from the first vaccine dose until 2 weeks after second dose. SARS-CoV-2 spike specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) responses were quantified by a multiplex bead-based assay in saliva and correlated to paired serum IgG titers determined by Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S assay.ResultsIgG responses to the SARS-CoV-2 spike full-length trimeric glycoprotein (Spike-f) and S1 subunit in saliva in the HIV and HSCT/CAR-T groups were comparable to healthy controls. In contrast, PID, SOT, and CLL patients all displayed weaker responses which were mainly influenced by disease parameters or immunosuppressants. Salivary IgG levels strongly correlated with serum IgG titers on days 21 and 35 (rho=0.8079 and 0.7768, p=ConclusionsSaliva conveys humoral responses induced by BNT162b2 vaccination. The predictive power makes it highly suitable for screening low responding/vulnerable groups for revaccination.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.govIdentifier:NCT04780659FundingKnut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, Erling Perssons family foundation, Region Stockholm, Swedish Research Council, Karolinska Institutet, The Swedish Blood Cancer Foundation and the organization for PID patient group in Sweden, and Nordstjernan AB. Center for Medical Innovation (CIMED), the Swedish Medical Research Council and the Stockholm County Council (ALF).GRAPHIC ABSTRACT

BackgroundPatients with immunocompromised disorders have mainly been excluded from clinical trials of vaccination against COVID-19. Thus, the aim of this prospective clinical trial was to investigate the safety and efficacy after two doses of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination in five selected groups of immunocompromised patients and healthy controls.Methods539 study subjects (449 patients and 90 controls) were included in the clinical trial. The patients had either primary (n=90), or secondary immunodeficiency disorders due to human immunodeficiency virus infection (n=90), allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation/chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy (n=90), solid organ transplantation (SOT) (n=89), or chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) (n=90). The primary endpoint was seroconversion rate two weeks after the second dose. The secondary endpoints were safety and documented SARS-CoV-2 infection.FindingsAdverse events were generally mild, but one case of fatal suspected unexpected serious adverse reaction occurred. 72·2% of the immunocompromised patients seroconverted compared to 100% of the controls (p=0.004). Lowest seroconversion rates were found in the SOT (43·4%) and CLL (63·3%) patient groups with observed negative impact of treatment with mycophenolate mofetil and ibrutinib, respectively.InterpretationThe results showed that the mRNA BNT162b2 vaccine was safe in immunocompromised patients. The rate of seroconversion was substantially lower than in healthy controls, with a wide range of rates and antibody titres among predefined patient groups and subgroups. This clinical trial highlights the need for additional vaccine doses in certain immunocompromised patient groups and/or subgroups to improve immunity.FundingKnut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, Nordstjernan AB, Region Stockholm, Swedish Research Council, Karolinska Institutet, and organizations for PID/CLL-patients in Sweden.

Background: mmunocompromised individuals are highly susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Whether vaccine-induced immunity in these individuals involves the oral cavity, a primary site of infection, is presently unknown. Methods: Immunocompromised individuals (n=404) and healthy controls (n=82) participated in a prospective clinical trial encompassing two doses of the mRNA BNT162b2 vaccine. Immunocompromised individuals included primary immunodeficiencies (PID) and secondary immunodeficiencies caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT)/chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy (CAR-T), solid organ transplantation (SOT), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Saliva and serum samples were collected at four time points from the first vaccine dose until 2 weeks after second dose. SARS-CoV-2 spike specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) responses were quantified by a multiplex bead-based assay in saliva and correlated to paired serum IgG titers determined by Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S assay. Results: IgG responses to the SARS-CoV-2 spike full-length tr­imeric glycoprotein (Spike-f) and S1 subunit in saliva in the HIV and HSCT/CAR-T groups were comparable to healthy controls. In contrast, PID, SOT, and CLL patients all displayed weaker responses which were mainly influenced by disease parameters or immunosuppressants. Salivary IgG levels strongly correlated with serum IgG titers on days 21 and 35 (rho=0.8079 and 0.7768, p=

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the survival benefit of sirolimus in patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (exploratory analysis of the SiLVER-trial). SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND DATA: Patients receiving LT) for HCC are at a high risk for tumor recurrence. Calcineurin inhibitors have shown evidence to promote cancer growth, whereas mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors like sirolimus have anticancer effects. In the SiLVER-trial (Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT00355862), the effect of sirolimus on the recurrence of HCC after LT was investigated in a prospective randomized trial. Although the primary endpoint of improved disease-free survival (DFS) with sirolimus was not met, outcomes were improved for patients in the sirolimus-treatment arm in the first 3 to 5 years. To learn more about the key variables, a multivariate analysis was performed on the SiLVER-trial data. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data from 508 patients of the intention-to-treat analysis were included in exploratory univariate and multivariate models for overall survival (OS), DFS and a competing risk analysis for HCC recurrence. RESULTS: Sirolimus use for ≥3 months after LT for HCC independently reduced the hazard for death in the multivariate analysis [hazard ratio (HR): 0.7 (95% confidence interval, CI: 0.52-0.96, P = 0.02). Most strikingly, patients with an alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) ≥10 ng/mL and having used sirolimus for ≥3 months, benefited most with regard to OS, DFS, and HCC-recurrence (HR: 0.49-0.59, P = 0.0079-0.0245). CONCLUSIONS: mTOR-inhibitor treatment with sirolimus for ≥3 months improves outcomes in LT for HCC, especially in patients with AFP-evidence of higher tumor activity, advocating particularly for mTOR inhibitor use in this subgroup of patients. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: EudraCT: 2005-005362-36 CLINICALTRIALS.GOV:: NCT00355862. ispartof: ANNALS OF SURGERY vol:272 issue:5 pages:855-862 ispartof: location:United States status: published

Liver transplantation in hepatocellular cancer (HCC) is curative only for a selection of patients. Commonly used criteria are mostly based on tumor size and number. However, patients within criteria do have tumor recurrences after transplantation and patients outside criteria are excluded even though some could benefit from transplantation. The tumor marker alpha fetoprotein (AFP) is associated with poor outcome and has already been reported to improve selection. We investigated the hypothesis that AFP level combined with traditional selection criteria could ameliorate the selection accuracy for liver transplantation in HCC.A retrospective national cohort study in 336 patients who had liver transplantation for HCC in Sweden 1996-2014.AFP cut-off levels of 20, 100, 1000 and1000 ng/mL stratified both survival and tumor recurrence, with estimated 5-year survival rates of 74, 61, 49 and 31%, respectively. A simple score, combining three risk levels according to Milan and UCSF fulfillment with three levels of AFP, increased predictive accuracy. A high score identified 35 at-risk patients with estimated post-transplant 5-year survival rate of only 29% compared to 50% for 76 patients excluded by UCSF. More patients were within the combined score cut-off compared to within UCSF, but 5-year survival was similar, 67% versus 66%.AFP combined with traditional selection criteria ameliorates the selection accuracy for liver transplantation in HCC.

Background: Patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) have increased risk of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). We evaluated pre-transplant work-up in PSC patients, to search for the most effective strategy for the detection of biliary dysplasia or early CCA. Methods: Two hundred and twenty five consecutive PSC patients undergoing liver transplantation (LTx) in Sweden between 1999 and 2013 were studied. Patients with CCA or dysplasia in the explanted liver were compared with those with benign histopathology. Measures of test performance were calculated for patients having brush cytology on one endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP) occasion, for those having repeated examinations with or without cholangioscopy, and for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Survival after LTx was analyzed. Results: Brush cytology on a single ERCP occasion had moderate sensitivity (57%) and high specificity (94%) for the detection of CCA/high grade dysplasia (HGD) in the explanted liver. The corresponding sensitivity and specificity for FISH were 84% and 90%, respectively. Utilizing repeated ERCP and brush cytology to confirm the initial finding improved sensitivity to 82%. Using single operator cholangioscopy (SOC) for targeted examination at the second ERCP improved sensitivity (100%) and specificity (97%) significantly. Mortality rate in patients with incidentally discovered CCA (n = 16) in the explanted liver was significantly higher than in patients with HGD or benign histopathology (HR 16.0; 95% CI, 5.6–45.4; p Conclusions: Repeated brush cytology especially when combined with targeted examination under SOC guidance is superior to single brush examinations. This strategy improves the detection of malignancy in PSC and is of importance for selection of patients for LTx.

AIM AND BACKGROUND: The Nordic Liver Transplant Registry (NLTR) accounts for all liver transplants performed in the Nordic countries since the start of the transplant program in 1982. Due to short waiting times, donor liver allocation has been made without considerations of the model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) score. We aimed to summarize key outcome measures and developments for the activity up to December 2013.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The registry is integrated with the operational waiting-list and liver allocation system of Scandiatransplant (www.scandiatransplant.org) and accounted at the end of 2013 for 6019 patients out of whom 5198 were transplanted. Data for recipient and donor characteristics and relevant end-points retransplantation and death are manually curated on an annual basis to allow for statistical analysis and the annual report.RESULTS: Primary sclerosing cholangitis, acute hepatic failure, alcoholic liver disease, primary biliary cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma are the five most frequent diagnoses (accounting for 15.3%, 10.8%, 10.6%, 9.3% and 9.0% of all transplants, respectively). Median waiting time for non-urgent liver transplantation during the last 10-year period was 39 days. Outcome has improved over time, and for patients transplanted during 2004-2013, overall one-, five- and 10-year survival rates were 91%, 80% and 71%, respectively. In an intention-to-treat analysis, corresponding numbers during the same time period were 87%, 75% and 66%, respectively.CONCLUSION: The liver transplant program in the Nordic countries provides comparable outcomes to programs with a MELD-based donor liver allocation system. Unique features comprise the diagnostic spectrum, waiting times and the availability of an integrated waiting list and transplant registry (NLTR).

Liver transplantation (LT) for patients with human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infection has been associated with poor outcome. However, after the introduction of the highly active antiretroviral therapy, short-term patient survival after LT has improved significantly. We examined the long-term outcome of HIV-1-positive patients who underwent LT. Medical records were analysed in nine HIV-1-positive LT patients who underwent LT from August 1998 to May 2012. Eight were known to be HIV-1 positive at the time of listing for LT and had end-stage liver disease (ESLD) due to hepatitis C. One patient had primary biliary cirrhosis, and primary HIV-1 infection was found at the date of LT. Seven of the nine patients remain alive to date. So far, three have survived more than 12 years after LT. The overall patient survival rate for both five and 10 years is 77.8%. Four patients experienced acute rejection and six acquired biopsy-confirmed HCV recurrence. HIV-1 replication was effectively blocked during follow-up in all patients. We conclude that long-term survival of HIV-1-positive patients after LT can be achieved. Our study suggests that LT can offer an effective treatment option in selected HIV-1 infected patients with ESLD.

International audience; BACKGROUND:We investigated whether sirolimus-based immunosuppression improves outcomes in liver transplantation (LTx) candidates with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).METHODS:In a prospective-randomized open-label international trial, 525 LTx recipients with HCC initially receiving mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor-free immunosuppression were randomized 4 to 6 weeks after transplantation into a group on mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor-free immunosuppression (group A: 264 patients) or a group incorporating sirolimus (group B: 261). The primary endpoint was recurrence-free survival (RFS); intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis was conducted after 8 years. Overall survival (OS) was a secondary endpoint.RESULTS:Recurrence-free survival was 64.5% in group A and 70.2% in group B at study end, this difference was not significant (P = 0.28; hazard ratio [HR], 0.84; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.62; 1.15). In a planned analysis of RFS rates at yearly intervals, group B showed better outcomes 3 years after transplantation (HR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.48-1.00). Similarly, OS (P = 0.21; HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.58-1.13) was not statistically better in group B at study end, but yearly analyses showed improvement out to 5 years (HR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.49-1.00). Interestingly, subgroup (Milan Criteria-based) analyses revealed that low-risk, rather than high-risk, patients benefited most from sirolimus; furthermore, younger recipients (age ≤60) also benefited, as well sirolimus monotherapy patients. Serious adverse event numbers were alike in groups A (860) and B (874).CONCLUSIONS:Sirolimus in LTx recipients with HCC does not improve long-term RFS beyond 5 years. However, a RFS and OS benefit is evident in the first 3 to 5 years, especially in low-risk patients. This trial provides the first high-level evidence base for selecting immunosuppression in LTx recipients with HCC.TRIAL REGISTRATION:ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00355862.

The chimeric state after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation provides a platform for adoptive immunotherapy using donor-derived immune cells. The major risk with donor lymphocyte infusions (DLIs) is the development of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). Development of new DLI products with antitumor reactivity and reduced GvHD risk represents a challenging task in cancer immunotherapy. Although natural killer (NK) and NK-like T cells are promising owing to their antitumor activity, their low concentrations in peripheral blood mononuclear cells reduces their utility in DLIs. We have recently developed a system that allows expansion of clinical-grade NK and NK-like T cells in large numbers. In this study, the safety of donor-derived long-term ex vivo-expanded human NK and NK-like T cells given as DLIs was investigated as immunotherapy for cancer in five patients following allogeneic stem cell infusion. Infusion of the cells was safe whether administered alone or with IL-2 subcutaneously. No signs of acute GvHD were observed. One patient with hepatocellular carcinoma showed markedly decreased serum α-fetoprotein levels following cell infusions. These findings suggest that the use of ex vivo-expanded NK and NK-like T cells is safe and appears an attractive approach for further clinical evaluation in cancer patients.

Domino liver transplantation (DLT) using grafts from patients with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP) is an established procedure at many transplantation centers. However, data evaluating the long-term outcome of DLT are limited. The aim of the present study was to analyze the risk of de novo polyneuropathy, possibly because of amyloidosis, and the patient survival after DLT. At our department, 28 DLT using FAP grafts were conducted between January 1997 and December 2005. One patient was twice subjected to DLT. Postoperative neurological monitoring of peripheral nerve function was performed with electroneurography (ENeG) in 20 cases. An ENeG index based on 12 parameters was calculated and correlated to age and/or height. Three patients developed ENeG signs of polyneuropathy 2-5 years after the DLT, but with no clinical symptoms. The 1-, 3- and 5-year actuarial patient survival in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients (n = 12) and non-HCC patients (n = 15) was 67%, 15%, 15% and 93%, 93%, 80%, respectively (P = 0.001). Development of impaired nerve conduction in a proportion of patients may indicate that de novo amyloidosis occurs earlier than previously expected. Survival after DLT was excellent except in patients with advanced HCC.

Orthotopic liver transplantation (LTx) is currently the only available treatment that has been proven to halt the progress of familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP). The aim of this study was to assess mortality and symptomatic response to LTx for FAP. All 86 FAP patients transplanted at our hospital between April 1990 and November 2005 were included in the study. Five patients underwent retransplantation. The 1-, 3- and 5-year patient survival rates in patients transplanted during 1996-2005 were 94.6%, 92.3% and 92.3%, respectively, a significant difference from the rates of 76.7%, 66.7% and 66.7%, respectively, during 1990-1995 (p = 0.0003). Multivariate analysis revealed that the age at the time of LTx (or=40 years), duration of the disease (or=7 years) and modified body mass index (mBMI) (600) were independent prognostic factors for patient survival. A halt in the progress of symptoms was noted in most patients, but only a minority experienced an improvement after LTx. To optimize the posttransplant prognosis, LTx should be performed in the early stages of the disease, and close post-LTx monitoring of heart function by echocardiography and of heart arrhythmia by Holter ECG is mandatory.

Background. Children with primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH 1) often develop severe growth failure, which is related to metabolic and endocrine consequences of chronic renal failure, and/or oxalate deposition in bone and cartilage. Combined liver and kidney transplantation (LKT) corrects the underlying metabolic defect and restores renal function in these children. Methods. We therefore analyzed longitudinal growth of 24 children with PHI who underwent LKT at nine European centers. Mean age at LKT was 8.9 years, and mean duration of follow-up was 5.7 years. Results. After LKT mean standardized height tended to increase from -1.79 SD to -1.47 SD until last observation. Mean adult height amounted to 167 cm and 158 cm in boys and girls, respectively. At last observation, seven out of 24 patients were stunted. Within the whole study population, the degree of catch-up growth after LKT was positively associated with degree of stunting at the time of LKT and negatively associated with prednisolone dosage explaining together 39% of the overall variability. Conclusions. Combined LKT does not induce true catch-up growth in the majority of children with PHI. Due to the preexisting growth retardation at the time of LKT, one third of patients end up with a reduced final height.

Background: Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is a serious complication after organ transplantation associated with a high mortality, and is often caused by a primary or reactivated Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. The incidence of PTLD ranges from 1% to 10%, depending on the type of organ transplanted and the immunosuppressive regimens used. Methods: In this retrospective study from a single center, 12 (2.4%) of 500 consecutive recipients of liver grafts developed lymphoma. Patient data were obtained by chart review. All diagnostic biopsies were reviewed by two hematopathologists. Results: The median time between transplantation and the diagnosis of lymphoma was 19.5 (1.5–148) mo. Nine of the patients had been treated with OKT-3 and/or ATG after the transplantation. Two patients had a pretransplant diagnosis of lymphoma. The PTLD was of high grade in all patients, and was associated with EBV in 6 of 9 examined cases. No relation with human herpesvirus-8 could be detected. In all patients, immuno-suppression was reduced at the time of lymphoma diagnosis. Chemotherapy was used in all patients, mostly upfront but in one patient after lymphoma progression after reduction of immunosuppression. Nine patients also got antiviral therapy. Immunotherapy with the monoclonal antibody rituximab was used in one patient. Half of the patients are alive, in complete continuous remission, more than 4 yr after the lymphoma diagnosis. Two patients died of neutropenic sepsis, three of persistent lymphoma, and one of recurrent cirrhosis while in complete remission. Conclusions: PTLD is a significant complication in liver-transplanted patients. Intensive chemotherapy can induce long-term remissions in a substantial number of patients. The role for monoclonal antibodies in this setting should be investigated further.

We wanted to determine whether allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) may result in long-term survival in patients with solid cancer. HSCT was performed in 61 patients with solid cancer: metastatic renal carcinoma (n = 22), cholangiocarcinoma (n = 17), colon carcinoma (n = 15), prostate cancer (n = 3), pancreatic adenocarcinoma (n = 3), or breast cancer (n = 1). Liver transplantation was performed for tumor debulking in 18 patients. Median age was 56 years (range, 28 to 77). Donors were either HLA-identical siblings (n = 29) or unrelated (n = 32). Conditioning was nonmyeloablative (n = 23), reduced (n = 36), or myeloablative (n = 2). Graft failure occurred in 13 patients (21%). The cumulative incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) of grades II to IV was 47%, and that of chronic GVHD was 32%. Treatment-related mortality was 21%. At 5 years cancer-related mortality was 63%. Currently, 6 patients are alive, 2 with renal cell carcinoma, 1 with cholangiocarcinoma, and 3 with pancreatic carcinoma. Eight-year survival was 12%. Risk factors for mortality were nonmyeloablative conditioning (HR, 2.95; P .001), absence of chronic GVHD (HR, 3.57; P .001), acute GVHD of grades II to IV (HR, 2.90; P = .002), and HLA-identical transplant (HR, 5.00; P = .03). With none of these risk factors, survival at 6 years was 50% (n = 6). Long-term survival can be achieved in some patients with solid cancer after HSCT.

Background. Tumor recurrence after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in patients with advanced primary liver cancer is common. To achieve an adjuvant graft-versus-tumor effect, the authors investigated whether transplantation of allogeneic peripheral blood stem cells (PSCT) after OLT can induce sustained complete donor chimerism. Methods. Five patients with advanced primary liver cancer were included in the trial. None of the patients had signs of extrahepatic tumor before OLT. However, overall, the extent of surgery, as judged by morphologic examination of the explanted liver, was considered inadequate. A nonmyeloablative preparative regimen of fludarabine combined with total-body irradiation or cyclophosphamide preceded the allogeneic PSCT, which was then performed 16 to 135 days after OLT with human leukocyte antigen-matched donors. Mixed chimerism was monitored weekly by polymerase chain reaction of variable number tandem repeats after PSCT. Results. In two patients, no engraftment of donor cells was seen, whereas one rejected the cells 2 months after PSCT. In two of the patients, a stable mixed donor chimerism was established. A mild transient graft-versus-host reaction was also noted in two patients. Three of the patients died of progressive disease 7 to 9 months after OLT. The other two are presently alive without recurrence at a follow-up of 26 and 10 months, respectively. Conclusions. These data suggest that PSCT after OLT is feasible, with low transplant-related morbidity. The rate of nonengraftment or rejection of the transplanted stem cells in this group of patients was three of five. An augmented pretreatment to prevent donor T-cell rejection seems to be necessary in this setting.

Background Hepatobiliary scintigraphy using 99mTc-mebrofenin has been used as an investigation to study liver function after liver transplantation (LTx). Hepatic extraction fraction (HEF) is a measurement of the hepatic extraction efficiency and hepatic extraction rate. With the purpose of evaluating a possible diverging effect of cyclosporin A (CSA) and tacrolimus (TAC) on the HEF, we compared the HEF with biochemical and histological parameters in LTx patients receiving either CSA or TAC. Methods Thirty-nine adult patients who underwent LTx due to hepatitis C virus (HCV) cirrhosis were evaluated. All patients underwent a 3-month and 1-year follow-up that included hepatobiliary scintigraphy and biochemistry tests. Liver biopsy was performed at 1 year. These clinical parameters were compared between the two groups, TAC (n = 15) and CSA (n = 24). Results The average HEF was significantly lower in the CSA group compared to the TAC group both at 3 months and 1 year after LTx. The liver biochemistry tests, average donor and recipient age, average cold ischemia time (CIT), and a clearance were comparable in the two groups. The TAC group had more inflammation than the CSA group. Moreover, three patients who converted from CSA to TAC increased their HEF values. Conclusions CSA-treated patients presented a lower HEF value on hepatobiliary scintigraphy in spite of comparable liver function by traditional measurements indicating a decrease on HEF values by CSA.

BackgroundIn histocompatibility mismatched experimental animals, a combination of T-cell-depleted autologous and allogeneic marrow may induce mixed chimerism and tolerance. Patients with large prim ...

Orally given ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has beneficial effects on laboratory parameters in different cholestatic conditions. In order to investigate the effect on early graft function after liver transplantation, 33 patients were randomized to receive either UDCA 15 mg/kg per day or placebo from the 1st postoperative day until 3 months after transplantation. All liver grafts produced bile within 24 h after revascularization. In both groups there was an increasing bile flow each day until day 5 after transplantation. This increase was more pronounced in the UDCA group where the flow on day 2 reached a mean value of 183 ± 28 ml/day compared to 106 ± 17 ml/day in the placebo group (P < 0.05). The average daily volume of bile produced during the first 10 days was also found to be higher in the UDCA group compared to the placebo group (242 ± 20 ml vs 176 ± 18 ml, P < 0.02). In the UDCA group a significant decrease in total bile acid output between the 5th and 10th postoperative days was found, while in the placebo group the amount of bile acids excreted remained stable over time. The composition of bile differed between the two groups with an increase in the portion of UDCA in the UDCA group from the 2nd postoperative day (25 % vs 4.6 %, P < 0.0003). The fraction of UDCA then remained high during the whole study period with a peak at day 3 when 38.1 ± 6.6 % of the bile acids consisted of UDCA. In the placebo group, the fraction of UDCA was low from the beginning and diminished further over time. Prophylactic UDCA treatment was found to have a significant positive impact on the ALT level during the 4th and 5th postoperative days, but had no effect on bilirubin or GGT in the early postoperative phase (days 1–10). No differences in cyclosporine requirement were found between the two groups.

Background Prophylactic treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has been reported to reduce the incidence of acute rejection after liver transplantation compared with historical controls. We investigated this in a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled multicenter study. Methods Fifty-four liver transplant patients were allocated to the UDCA treatment group (15 mg/kg/day), and 48 patients were allocated to the placebo group. Trial medicine was started on the first postoperative day and was given for 3 months. Follow-up was for 12 months. Treatment was stratified for adults with chronic liver disease (n=77), adults with acute liver failure (n=10), and children (n=15). Results The frequency of patients with acute rejection was 65% in the UDCA treatment group and 68% in the placebo group. The frequency of steroid-resistant rejection was similar in both groups. The probability of acute rejection, analyzed according to the intention-to-treat policy with Kaplan-Meier analysis, was similar in both treatment groups. No significant differences were found in patient survival and graft survival probabilities. For the biochemical markers of cholestasis, only gamma-glutamyltransferase was significantly improved after 2 months of UDCA treatment. Conclusions The initial optimistic report of a beneficial effect of prophylactic treatment with UDCA on acute rejection after liver transplantation was not confirmed in this controlled study.

Cyclosporine (CsA) and tacrolimus (FK506) have recently been reported to inhibit canalicular transport of bile acids in vitro and thereby possibly induce cholestasis. A relative reduction of chenod ...

Background The potential anti-cancer effects of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors are being intensively studied. To date, however, few randomised clinical trials (RCT) have been performed to demonstrate anti-neoplastic effects in the pure oncology setting, and at present, no oncology endpoint-directed RCT has been reported in the high-malignancy risk population of immunosuppressed transplant recipients. Interestingly, since mTOR inhibitors have both immunosuppressive and anti-cancer effects, they have the potential to simultaneously protect against immunologic graft loss and tumour development. Therefore, we designed a prospective RCT to determine if the mTOR inhibitor sirolimus can improve hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-free patient survival in liver transplant (LT) recipients with a pre-transplant diagnosis of HCC. Methods/Design The study is an open-labelled, randomised, RCT comparing sirolimus-containing versus mTOR-inhibitor-free immunosuppression in patients undergoing LT for HCC. Patients with a histologically confirmed HCC diagnosis are randomised into 2 groups within 4-6 weeks after LT; one arm is maintained on a centre-specific mTOR-inhibitor-free immunosuppressive protocol and the second arm is maintained on a centre-specific mTOR-inhibitor-free immunosuppressive protocol for the first 4-6 weeks, at which time sirolimus is initiated. A 21/2 -year recruitment phase is planned with a 5-year follow-up, testing HCC-free survival as the primary endpoint. Our hypothesis is that sirolimus use in the second arm of the study will improve HCC-free survival. The study is a non-commercial investigator-initiated trial (IIT) sponsored by the University Hospital Regensburg and is endorsed by the European Liver and Intestine Transplant Association; 13 countries within Europe, Canada and Australia are participating. Discussion If our hypothesis is correct that mTOR inhibition can reduce HCC tumour growth while simultaneously providing immunosuppression to protect the liver allograft from rejection, patients should experience less post-transplant problems with HCC recurrence, and therefore could expect a longer and better quality of life. A positive outcome will likely change the standard of posttransplant immunosuppressive care for LT patients with HCC. Trial Register Trial registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov: NCT00355862 (EudraCT Number: 2005-005362-36)

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced cirrhosis is the major indication for liver transplantation globally, and an increasing indication for liver transplantation in Sweden. We have retrospectively examined the 120 patients transplanted for HCV cirrhosis from 1987 through 2005, including 11 who received more than one graft. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year postoperative survivals for all patients transplanted for HCV with or without hepatocellular cancer (HCC) were 77%, 66%, and 53%, respectively. HCV patients without HCC had a 1-, 3-, and 5-year survivals of 78%, 73%, and 61%, compared with 84%, 79% and 74%, respectively, for patients transplanted with chronic liver diseases without cancer or HCV. The number of patients with HCV cirrhosis transplanted in our center is increasing. Compared with patients transplanted for other chronic liver diseases, we experienced inferior results among patients with HCV cirrhosis.

Summary The role of adjuvant systemic chemotherapy in liver transplantation (LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is controversial. Here, we report the results of a Nordic prospective, randomized, multi-centre trial of systemic low-dose doxorubicin in patients with HCC. Between February 1996 and April 2004, 46 patients were randomized to receive either neoadjuvant doxorubicin in combination with LT (chemo group; n = 19) or LT alone (control group; n = 27). In the chemo group, doxorubicin was administered intravenously, 10 mg/m2 weekly, starting from acceptance onto the waiting list for LT. One intraoperative dose of 15 mg/m2 was given, and postoperatively doxorubicin was given weekly at a dose of 10 mg/m2, depending on the clinical course, up to a cumulative dose of 400 mg/m2. Actuarial, 3-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in the control group were 70% and 50%, respectively. In the chemo group, both OS and DFS were 63%. Freedom from recurrence at 3 years was 55% in the control group and 74% in the chemo group. None of the differences was statistically significant. Neoadjuvant treatment with systemic low-dose doxorubicin seems not to improve either survival or freedom from recurrence in patients with HCC undergoing LT.

Adjuvant treatment with adriamycin has been suggested to improve results after liver transplantation for hepatocellular cancer. Here we have applied an animal model for evaluation of treatment with adriamycin and/or cyclosporine A on liver tumour growth. Three chemically induced rat liver tumours with various degree of differentiation were transferred to the spleens of syngenic rats. Each recipient group was divided into four subgroups, treated with adriamycin and/or cyclosporine A or none of the drugs. When the tumour was well differentiated no proliferation was found in any of the subgroups. When the tumour exhibited a more pronounced dysplasia, adriamycin stimulated tumour growth. This effect was further increased by cyclosporine. In the animals transplanted with the most aggressive tumour, adriamycin inhibited tumour growth. When given together with cyclosporine this inhibition was counteracted. These data suggest that adriamycin, especially when given together with cyclosporine, may have a stimulatory effect on liver tumour cell growth.

Background. Survival after liver transplantation for fulminant hepatic failure has been reported to be less favorable than survival for patients with chronic liver diseases. Methods. We have studied all patients (n=229) undergoing highly urgent liver transplantation from 1990 to 2001 in the Nordic countries. The impact of patient and donor characteristics, with emphasis on donor-recipient ABO matching (identical, compatible, incompatible), has been studied. Results. One-year and 3-year patient survival rates were 73% and 70% for the total period and 86% and 78% for the last 4-year period. Patients receiving an ABO-compatible liver allograft had significantly lower patient survival rates than those receiving an ABO-identical donor organ (1-year patient survival rates 66% of vs. 79%, P=0.03). Graft survival rates varied less (1-year graft survival rates of 64% vs. 74%, P=0.09). Patients receiving an ABO-incompatible liver allograft had patient survival rates of 70% at 1 year and 60% at 3 years but low graft survival rates (40% and 30% at 1 and 3 years). In a multiple regression analysis, significant independent predictors of poor patient survival were early year of transplantation, ABO-compatible donor, high donor age, and waiting time more than 3 days and less than 9 days. Conclusion. Survival after highly urgent liver transplantation has improved and is comparable to that observed in patients receiving a liver allograft because of chronic liver disease. Patients receiving an ABO-identical donor organ had significantly higher patient survival rates compared with those receiving an ABO-compatible donor liver.