The Role of Immunosuppression for Recurrent Cholangiocellular Carcinoma after Liver Transplantation

  • Safak Gül-Klein
  • , Paulina Schmitz
  • , Wenzel Schöning
  • , Robert Öllinger
  • , Georg Lurje
  • , Sven Jonas
  • , Deniz Uluk
  • , Uwe Pelzer
  • , Frank Tacke
  • , Moritz Schmelzle
  • , Johann Pratschke
  • , Ramin Raul Ossami Saidy
  • , Dennis Eurich

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Liver transplantation (LT) for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), or biliary tract cancer (BTC), remains controversial regarding high recurrence rates and poor prognosis. Oncological follow-up may benefit from tumor-inhibiting properties of mTOR inhibitors (mTORI), shown with improved survival for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after LT. The aim of this study was to investigate the recurrence and survival in relation to tumor type and type of immunosuppression (IS). LT patients with CCA or mixed HCC/CCA (mHCC/CCA) (n = 67) were retrospectively analyzed. Endpoints were the time from LT to recurrence (n = 44) and survival after recurrence. Statistically significant impairment in survival for recurrent CCA (rCCA) was shown in patients not eligible for surgical resection (HR 2.46 (CI: 1.2–5.1; p = 0.02). Histological proven grading >1 and N1 status at initial transplantation were associated with impaired survival (HR 0.13 (CI: 0.03–0.58); p < 0.01 and HR 3.4 (CI: 1.0–11.65); p = 0.05). Reduced IS after tumor recurrence improved survival (HR 4.2/CI: 1.3–13.6; p = 0.02). MTORI initiation before recurrence or after had no significant impact on survival. Our data thereby indicate, similar to findings in recurrent HCC after LT, that patients with rCCA after LT benefit from a reduction in IS upon recurrence.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2890
JournalCancers
Volume14
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jun 2022
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • cholangiocellular carcinoma
  • liver transplantation
  • recurrent cholangiocellular carcinoma
  • reduced immunosuppression

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