Living-donor Liver Transplant at UPMC is a Treatment Option for Patients with Advanced Liver Cancer
November 14, 2024
Living-donor liver transplant offers a promising option for patients with advanced liver cancers, such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), particularly for those who may not be ideal candidates for deceased-donor liver transplant due to waitlist times or disease progression.
In a living-donor liver transplant, a healthy donor provides a portion of their liver, which regenerates in both the donor and the recipient in the months following surgery. Living-donor liver transplant has been shown to have improved long-term outcomes, faster recovery times, and shorter wait times, potentially minimizing the risk of disease progression while waiting for an organ.
As transplant innovators, UPMC leads the nation in both adult and pediatric living-donor liver transplants, and our experts have developed transplant protocols for the following cancers:
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
- Unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer
- Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma or mixed cholangio/hepatocellular carcinoma
- Hilar cholangiocarcinoma
- Unresectable neuroendocrine tumor.
For patients with advanced liver cancers, a living-donor liver transplant can provide an opportunity to intervene earlier in the disease course. Living donation represents a vital frontier in treating liver cancers and improving long-term outcomes for patients with limited treatment options.
Our goal is to collaborate with you and your team to provide the best care possible.
To consult with a UPMC Transplant Services physician or to refer a patient, please visit UPMCPhysicianResources.com/LiverTransplant.
