Sirolimus-based immunosuppression following liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver Transpl 2008 May;14(5):633-8
Date
03/08/2008Pubmed ID
18324656DOI
10.1002/lt.21420Scopus ID
2-s2.0-43849095466 159 CitationsAbstract
Experience with sirolimus (SRL)-based immunosuppression following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is rapidly accumulating. In combination with calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs), SRL may reduce the incidence of acute rejection and lower overall required drug levels. This study sought to quantify long-term outcome following OLT in patients with cirrhosis and concomitant hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who were treated with an SRL-based regimen as a primary therapy. From January 2000 to June 2007, 97 patients underwent OLT for end-stage liver disease and HCC at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. Of those, 45 patients received SRL, in addition to CNIs, as a component of their primary immunosuppression regimen post-OLT. Conversely, 52 patients received the standard immunosuppression regimen including CNIs, mycophenolate mofetil, and corticosteroids. The 2 treatment groups were compared with respect to the following variables: age, gender, tumor stage by explant, grade, size, presence of vascular invasion, focality, Child's class, baseline creatinine, and warm and cold ischemic times. The 2 groups were comparable by all factors save for cold ischemic time, which was significantly longer in the CNI-treated group. Overall survival at 1 and 5 years post-OLT for patients treated with SRL was 95.5% and 78.8%, respectively. Conversely, survival in patients treated with CNIs exclusively at the same time intervals was 83% and 62%. Although there was no difference in the incidence of major complications, the SRL group experienced a modest improvement in renal function. Cumulatively, these data suggest a potential survival benefit with SRL-based therapy in patients undergoing OLT for end-stage liver disease and concomitant malignancy.
Author List
Zimmerman MA, Trotter JF, Wachs M, Bak T, Campsen J, Skibba A, Kam IAuthor
Michael A. Zimmerman MD, FACS Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Adrenal Cortex HormonesCalcineurin Inhibitors
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
Cyclosporine
Drug Therapy, Combination
Female
Graft Rejection
Humans
Immunosuppressive Agents
Kaplan-Meier Estimate
Kidney Diseases
Liver Failure
Liver Neoplasms
Liver Transplantation
Male
Middle Aged
Mycophenolic Acid
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
Proportional Hazards Models
Retrospective Studies
Risk Assessment
Sirolimus
Tacrolimus
Time Factors
Treatment Outcome
