Ethnic disparities and liver transplantation rates in hepatocellular carcinoma patients in the recent era: Results from the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results registry LIVER TRANSPLANTATION Wong, R. J., Devaki, P., Long Nguyen, L., Cheung, R., Nguyen, M. H. 2014; 20 (5): 528-535

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Following implementation of the model for end stage liver disease (MELD) system, rates of liver transplantation (LT) for HCC patients increased. However, it is not clear if this trend continued into the recent time period. Utilizing the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 1998-2010 registry, we retrospectively analyzed trends in LT among HCC patients using three time periods: 1998-2003, 2004-2008, and 2009-2010). A total of 60,772 HCC patients were identified. With more recent time periods, the proportion of localized stage HCC increased (45.0% in 1998-2003 vs. 50.4% in 2004-2008 vs. 51.7% in 2009-2010, p<0.001). While the proportion of HCC patients within Milan criteria also increased with time (22.8% vs. 31.8% vs. 37.1%, p<0.001), the proportion of these patients receiving LT increased from 1998-2003 to 2004-2008, but decreased in 2009-2010. However, the actual frequency of LT was similar in 2004-2008 (208.2/year) and 2009-2010 (201.5/year). Multivariate logistic regression, inclusive of sex, age, ethnicity, Milan criteria, tumor stage, tumor size and number, and time periods, demonstrated a lower likelihood of LT in 2009-2010 compared to 1998-2003 (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.57-0.71). Blacks (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.41-0.56), Asians (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.57-0.73), and Hispanics (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.68-0.85) were all less likely to receive LT compared to non-Hispanic whites. Despite increasing proportion of earlier staged HCC diagnosed, LT rates are declining in the recent era. In addition, ethnic minorities were significantly less likely to receive LT. The growing imbalance between the number of transplant-eligible HCC patients and the shortage of donor livers emphasizes the need to improve donor availability and curative alternatives to LT. Liver Transpl , 2014. © 2014 AASLD.

View details for DOI 10.1002/lt.23820

View details for Web of Science ID 000334953000004

View details for PubMedID 24415542