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World J Gastroenterol. May 14, 2014; 20(18): 5331-5344
Published online May 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i18.5331
Liver transplantation for malignancy: Current treatment strategies and future perspectives
Christina Hackl, Hans J Schlitt, Gabriele I Kirchner, Birgit Knoppke, Martin Loss
Christina Hackl, Hans J Schlitt, Martin Loss, Department of Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
Gabriele I Kirchner, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
Birgit Knoppke, Department of Pediatrics and Juvenile Medicine, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
Author contributions: Hackl C contributed to conception and design, acquisition of data, drafting the article, critical revision for important intellectual content, final approval of the version to be published; Schlitt HJ contributed to conception and design, critical revision for important intellectual content, final approval of the version to be published; Kirchner GI contributed to critical revision for important intellectual content, final approval of the version to be published; Knoppke B contributed to critical revision for important intellectual content, final approval of the version to be published; and Loss M contributed to conception and design, drafting the article, critical revision for important intellectual content, final approval of the version to be published.
Correspondence to: Martin Loss, MD, Department of Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Franz Josef Strauss Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany. Martin.Loss@ukr.de
Telephone: +49-941-9446801 Fax: +49-941-9446802
Received: October 14, 2013
Revised: December 31, 2013
Accepted: February 26, 2014
Published online: May 14, 2014
Processing time: 212 Days and 6.5 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Liver transplantation for malignancy is a medical and ethical challenge with regard to oncologic outcome and allocation justice. Childhood hepatoblastoma, epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, limited hepatocellular carcinoma and fibrolamellar carcinoma are proven indications for liver transplantation. Recent clinical trials have suggested cholangiocellular adenocarcinoma and hepatic metastases originating from neuroendocrine tumors as new indications in selected patients. Ongoing research may further widen indications for liver transplantation in malignant disease and therefore also complicate organ allocation. Living-donor liver transplantation may offer a solution for selected patients.