Development and validation of a REcurrent Liver cAncer Prediction ScorE (RELAPSE) following liver transplantation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: Analysis of the US Multicenter HCC Transplant Consortium

Benjamin V. Tran, Dimitrios Moris, Daniela Markovic, Hamed Zaribafzadeh, Ricardo Henao, Quirino Lai, Sander S. Florman, Parissa Tabrizian, Brandy Haydel, Richard M. Ruiz, Goran B. Klintmalm, David D. Lee, C. Burcin Taner, Maarouf Hoteit, Matthew H. Levine, Umberto Cillo, Alessandro Vitale, Elizabeth C. Verna, Karim J. Halazun, Amit D. TevarAbhinav Humar, William C. Chapman, Neeta Vachharajani, Federico Aucejo, Jan Lerut, Olga Ciccarelli, Mindie H. Nguyen, Marc L. Melcher, Andre Viveiros, Benedikt Schaefer, Maria Hoppe-Lotichius, Jens Mittler, Trevor L. Nydam, James F. Markmann, Massimo Rossi, Constance Mobley, Mark Ghobrial, Alan N. Langnas, Carol A. Carney, Jennifer Berumen, Gabriel T. Schnickel, Debra L. Sudan, Johnny C. Hong, Abbas Rana, Christopher M. Jones, Thomas M. Fishbein, Ronald W. Busuttil, Andrew S. Barbas, Vatche G. Agopian

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

HCC recurrence following liver transplantation (LT) is highly morbid and occurs despite strict patient selection criteria. Individualized prediction of post-LT HCC recurrence risk remains an important need. Clinico-radiologic and pathologic data of 4981 patients with HCC undergoing LT from the US Multicenter HCC Transplant Consortium (UMHTC) were analyzed to develop a REcurrent Liver cAncer Prediction ScorE (RELAPSE). Multivariable Fine and Gray competing risk analysis and machine learning algorithms (Random Survival Forest and Classification and Regression Tree models) identified variables to model HCC recurrence. RELAPSE was externally validated in 1160 HCC LT recipients from the European Hepatocellular Cancer Liver Transplant study group. Of 4981 UMHTC patients with HCC undergoing LT, 71.9% were within Milan criteria, 16.1% were initially beyond Milan criteria with 9.4% downstaged before LT, and 12.0% had incidental HCC on explant pathology. Overall and recurrence-free survival at 1, 3, and 5 years was 89.7%, 78.6%, and 69.8% and 86.8%, 74.9%, and 66.7%, respectively, with a 5-year incidence of HCC recurrence of 12.5% (median 16 months) and non-HCC mortality of 20.8%. A multivariable model identified maximum alpha-fetoprotein (HR = 1.35 per-log SD, 95% CI,1.22-1.50, p < 0.001), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (HR = 1.16 per-log SD, 95% CI,1.04-1.28, p < 0.006), pathologic maximum tumor diameter (HR = 1.53 per-log SD, 95% CI, 1.35-1.73, p < 0.001), microvascular (HR = 2.37, 95%-CI, 1.87-2.99, p < 0.001) and macrovascular (HR = 3.38, 95% CI, 2.41-4.75, p < 0.001) invasion, and tumor differentiation (moderate HR = 1.75, 95% CI, 1.29-2.37, p < 0.001; poor HR = 2.62, 95% CI, 1.54-3.32, p < 0.001) as independent variables predicting post-LT HCC recurrence (C-statistic = 0.78). Machine learning algorithms incorporating additional covariates improved prediction of recurrence (Random Survival Forest C-statistic = 0.81). Despite significant differences in European Hepatocellular Cancer Liver Transplant recipient radiologic, treatment, and pathologic characteristics, external validation of RELAPSE demonstrated consistent 2-and 5-year recurrence risk discrimination (AUCs 0.77 and 0.75, respectively). We developed and externally validated a RELAPSE score that accurately discriminates post-LT HCC recurrence risk and may allow for individualized post-LT surveillance, immunosuppression modification, and selection of high-risk patients for adjuvant therapies.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)683-697
Number of pages15
JournalLiver Transplantation
Volume29
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1 2023
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hepatology
  • Surgery
  • Transplantation

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