Effect of Lymphatic Invasion on Survival and Recurrence After Liver Transplantation in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Its Prognostic Significance

Abstract

Objective: An important characteristic of Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is that it features multicentric recurrences that can recur after curative treatment. Current recommended curative treatments for HCC include liver transplantation (LT), and prognostic evaluation and appropriate treatment selection are crucial in the management of HCC patients. Factors considered tend to include tumor size and number, lobar distribution, multinodularity, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level, degree of tumor differentiation, vascular invasion, and satellite nodules. However, the prognostic value of intrahepatic lymphatic vessel invasion (LVI) has rarely been reported for liver cancers. Methods: From January 2012 to December 2020, a total of 178 HCC patients who underwent liver transplantation consecutively were retrospectively enrolled. Those who underwent liver transplantation were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of lymphatic vessel invasion. The primary aim was to compare the two groups for overall survival (OS), disease free survival (DFS), and recurrence rates, as well as to evaluate the prognostic effect of LVI after transplantation. Results: Poor tumor characteristics such as high tumor differentiation grade and MVI were significantly higher in the patient group with LI. Tumor recurrence and mortality rates were significantly higher in LI-positive recipients. Conclusions: The lymphatic invasion (LI) group displayed higher rates of recurrence and mortality. The findings emphasize the need to incorporate LI assessment into prognostic evaluations to enhance the management and outcomes of individuals with Hepatocellular carcinoma.