LIVING DONOR LIVER TRANSPLANT FOR INTRAHEPATIC CHOLANGIOCARCINOMA. AN INITIAL BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

Abstract

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) was considered a contraindication for liver transplantation. However, recent studies have shown that highly selected cases of patients with a good response to neoadjuvant therapy may achieve acceptable survival rates when following liver transplantation. AIMS: To present two cases of patients with iCCA, without extrahepatic disease, who underwent living donor liver transplantation after receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS: Two cases of patients with histopathological diagnosis of locally advanced iCCA, ineligible for resection and without evidence of extrahepatic disease, are presented. RESULTS: These patients underwent at least nine sessions of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, including Gemcitabine and Cisplatin, with or without the addition of immunobiological agents, resulting in a radiological tumor response. They subsequently underwent living donor liver transplantation. The average follow-up time was 15 months, with no clinical or radiological signs of disease. CONCLUSIONS: In well-selected patients without extrahepatic disease, living donor liver transplantation represents a potential therapeutic option for iCCA.

Keywords

• Cholangiocarcinoma
• Liver transplantation
• Tissue donors
• Drug therapy