[Liver transplantation for treating hepatocellular carcinoma]

To evaluate the role of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Data of 92 consecutive orthotopic liver transplantations (OLTs) performed during January 1999 and February 2005 at our institution were analyzed.Of the 92 recipients, 8 HCC patients were stage I, 13 were stage II, 12 stage III and 59 stage IV (UICC TNM staging system). Overall 1-, 2-, 3-, 5-year patient survival rates were 65.3%, 27.0%, 20.0%, and 6.9%, respectively. When OLT indications were considered, best recipients survival was obtained in stage I patients (100.0%, 100.0%, 66.7%, and 50.0% at 1, 2, 3, and 5 years, respectively) and stage II patients (85.7%, 66.7%, and 66.7% at 1, 2 and 3 years, respectively). Whereas, 1, 2, 3 and 5-year recipients survival rates were 50.0%, 0, 0, 0 in stage III patients, and 58.1%, 20.0%, 13.0% and 5.0% in stage IV patients.The prognosis of different stages of HCC patients who underwent OLT was significantly different. The OLT recipients with HCC should be strictly selected. Long-term recipient survival could be obtained in stage I and stage II patients.