Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) and mixed hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (HCC-CC) are primary liver tumors that have been on the rise in western countries. Surgical resection is the only curative treatment for iCCA, but it has poor outcomes with high recurrence rates and low survival rates. Similarly, HCC-CC, the most frequent mixed liver tumor, also has limited treatment options and a 3-year survival rate ranging from 10% to 40% after liver resection.
However, recent studies have shown that liver transplantation (LT) could be a viable treatment option for highly selected patients with iCCA or HCC-CC, similar to those with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While iCCA has traditionally been considered a contraindication for LT due to its poor prognosis, recent findings suggest adequate survival rates in selected patients.
The aim of a new study is to analyze the outcomes of LT in patients with incidental pathological diagnoses of iCCA or HCC-CC at a specific center. With the low number of reported cases, there is currently no consensus on the indication of LT for patients with HCC-CC, making this study significant for determining the potential of LT as a treatment option in early-stage iCCA cases.
Researchers hope that this study will provide valuable insights into the outcomes of LT for iCCA and HCC-CC, ultimately guiding future treatment decisions for these challenging liver tumors.
