This systematic review and meta-analysis looked at six retrospective studies involving patients with combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma. The researchers compared liver transplantation against liver resection to see which approach led to better outcomes. The group followed patients for an average of 60 months to track their health over time.
The analysis found that liver transplantation was associated with favorable results compared to resection. At five years, the odds of overall survival were better for those who received a transplant. Recurrence-free survival also showed improvement at both one and five years after the procedure.
The main reason to be careful is that the evidence comes only from six retrospective studies. Because these studies look back at past data, they cannot prove that the transplant caused the better survival rates. The authors note that liver transplantation could be considered for carefully selected patients, but more research is needed to confirm these findings.