BACKGROUND:Recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the main factor affecting the prognosis of patients with HCC undergoing liver transplantation (LT). In this study, we investigated the influencing factors of tumor recurrence and survival after LT for HCC, especially the long-term correlation with elevated fasting blood glucose (FBG). METHODS:Clinical data from 165 patients with HCC after LT in the General Hospital of Southern Theater Command of PLA between January 2013 and December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates, demographic characteristics, tumor characteristics, and surgical and postoperative data were evaluated. RESULTS:Among 165 patients, 144 completed over 60 months of follow-up; the median follow-up period was more than 36 months. DFS rates were 76.97%, 51.52%, and 34.73% for 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. The OS rate for 5 years was 40.28%. Independent risk factors for 1-year DFS were maximum tumor diameter >5 cm, age <49 years, and platelet transfusion. Independent risk factors for 3- and 5-year DFS were maximum tumor diameter >5 cm, capsular invasion, and FBG ≥6.1 mmol/L. Independent risk factors for OS were maximum tumor diameter >5 cm, capsular invasion, and FBG ≥6.1 mmol/L. CONCLUSION:Elevated FBG after LT for HCC may promote medium- to long-term tumor recurrence and affect OS. Age <49 years, platelet transfusion, maximum tumor diameter, capsular invasion, and microvascular invasion in patients with HCC also impact survival and tumor recurrence after LT.

It is known that lncRNA PLAC2 can inhibit glioma. This study explored the function of PLAC2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our data showed that PLAC2 expression in HCC was not affect by HCV and HBV infection, while PLAC2 levels were significantly lower in HCC tissues comparing to non-cancer tissues. Low PLAC2 levels in HCC tissues were associated with low overall 5-year survival rate. P53 mRNA was also downregulated in HCC and positively correlated with PLAC2. PLAC2 overexpression caused upregulated p53 and increase cancer cell apoptosis. P53 overexpression failed to affect PLAC2. In addition, p53 silencing reduced the effects of PLAC2 overexpression. Therefore, PLAC2 upregulated p53 to mediate cancer cell apoptosis.

Objective To investigate the re-operation timing and surgical modality for non-anastomotic biliary stricture (NABS) after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Methods The clinical data of 14 NABS patients hospitalized in our center from August 2003 to April 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were treated with different modalities of re-operation according to cholangiographic results, and the outcomes of re-operation were noted by postoperative follow-up. Results Among 421 OLT patients, NABS was seen in 14 (3.3%, 14/421), and it was accompanied by stenosis of hepatic artery in 4. Their total bilirubin, ALP and r-GGT levels were significantly higher in NABS patients than in non-NABS patients (P<0.01). According to cholangiographic findings, NABS was divided into 3 types: hepatic bile duct strictures (4 patients, type Ⅰ), multiple extrahepatic and intrahepatic biliary strictures (8 patients, type Ⅱ), intrahepatic biliary stricture (2 patients, type Ⅲ). The cure rate of interventional treatment in this study was 57.1% (8/14), and 6 patients eventually required surgical treatment again. The type Ⅰ patient was treated with Roux-en-Y anastomosis, and re-transplantation for other 5 patients (type Ⅱ in 4 and type Ⅲ in 1). Among these 5 patients receiving liver re-transplantation, 1 patient died of perioperative fungal infection. The blood loss (2570±851ml) and operation time (492±173min) in those re-transplantation patients were almost the same as their previous-transplantation (P＞ 0.05). More than half of type Ⅱ and Ⅲ patients needed re-transplantation, but the probability of re-transplantation was especially higher for those with hepatic artery stenosis (75%, 3/4). Cholangitis disappeared and the total bilirubin significantly reduced from 123.4µmol/L to 31.6µmol/L after resurgery. Conclusions For those NABS patients who may fail to be improved after a minimally invasive treatment, especially when it was combined with hepatic arterial stenosis, resurgical treatment should be carried out timely to avoid the loss of a chance for re-operation. Based on the different types of stricture as shown by cholangiographic images, different modalities for re-operation should be adapted, and both Roux-en-Y anastomosis and re-transplantation are optional for the treatment of NABS. DOI: 10.11855/j.issn.0577-7402.2015.08.08