Liver transplantation for isolated unresectable colorectal liver metastases- Protocol for a service evaluation in the United Kingdom- UKCoMET study

Background: Liver transplantation (LT) for unresectable colorectal liver metastases (CRCLM) demon-strates good overall survival for selected patients in contemporary studies, with 5-year survival of 80%. A Fixed Term Working Group (FTWG), set up by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) Liver Advisory Group (LAG), advised whether CRCLM should be considered for LT in United Kingdom. Their recommendation was that LT may be undertaken for isolated and unresectable CRCLM using strict selection criteria as a national clinical service evaluation. Methods: Opinions were sought from colorectal cancer/LT patient representatives, experts in colorectal cancer surgery/oncology, LT surgery, hepatology, hepatobiliary radiology, pathology, and nuclear medicine, and appropriate patient selection criteria, referral and transplant listing pathways were identified. Results: This paper summarises selection criteria for LT in United Kingdom for isolated and unre-sectable CRCLM patients, and highlights referral framework and pre-transplant assessment criteria. Finally, oncology-specific outcome measures to be utilised for assessing applicability of LT are described. Conclusion: This service evaluation represents a significant development for colorectal cancer patients in United Kingdom and a meaningful step forward in the field of transplant oncology. This paper details the protocol for the pilot study, scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2022 in United Kingdom.

Automated summary

This study summarizes the selection criteria for liver transplantation in the United Kingdom for isolated and unresectable colorectal liver metastases patients, and highlights the referral framework and pre-transplant assessment criteria. It also describes the oncology-specific outcome measures to be used for assessing the applicability of liver transplantation.