Recent advancements in liver cancer treatment have highlighted the importance of timing when integrating immunotherapy with liver transplantation. A study led by the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG) and the University of Geneva (UNIGE) analyzed data from 119 patients across 29 hospitals worldwide, focusing on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer. The researchers discovered that maintaining a gap of at least 50 days between the last dose of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) and liver transplantation significantly reduces the risk of graft rejection. Specifically, intervals shorter than 30 days increased the rejection risk more than 21-fold, while extending the interval to over 50 days markedly lowered this risk.
This finding is pivotal as both immunotherapy and liver transplantation are critical treatments for HCC. Immunotherapy activates the immune system to target cancer cells, but it can also heighten the risk of the immune system attacking transplanted organs. By identifying the optimal interval between these treatments, the study provides a foundation for integrating immunotherapy into liver transplantation protocols, potentially improving patient outcomes and expanding access to liver transplants.
