Dr. Satapathy on Recurrence in Orthotopic Liver Transplant Recipients With HCC

Sanjaya K. Satapathy, MD, associate professor, Transplant Hepatology Division of Surgery, Methodist University Hospital Transplant Institute, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, discusses preventing recurrence in orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) recipients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Some patients with HCC that that undergo OLT are found to have HCC with high recurrence risk feature on explant. This increases the risk of recurrence, leading investigators to look at the only FDA-approved treatment for HCC, sorafenib (Nexavar), for prevention.

Sorafenib was evaluated for use as prevention in this population, but the side effects make justifying usage difficult, says Satapathy. It is important to look for alternative modalities outside of sorafenib, such as everolimus (Afinitor) and other mTOR inhibitors, adds Satapathy.