Selection of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma for livertransplantation:Past and future

The aim of liver transplantation(LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is to ensure a rate of disease-free survival similar to that of patients transplanted due to benign disease. Therefore, we are forced to adopt strict criteria when selecting candidates for LT and prioritizing patients on the waiting list(WL), to have clarified indications for bridging therapy for groups at risk for progression or recurrence, and to establish certain limits for downstaging therapies. Although the Milan criteria(MC) remain the standard and most employed criteria for indication of HCC patients for LT by far, in the coming years, criteria will be consolidated that take into account not only data regarding the size/volume and number of tumors but also their biology. This criteria will mainly include the alpha fetoprotein(AFP) values and, in view of their wide variability, any of the published logarithmic models for the selection of candidates for LT. Bridging therapy is necessary for HCC patients on the WL who meet the MC and have the possibility of experiencing a delay for LT greater than 6 mo or any of the known risk factors for recurrence. It is difficult to define single AFP values that would indicate bridging therapy(200, 300 or 400 ng/m L); therefore, it is preferable to rely on the criteria of a French AFP model score > 2. Other single indications for bridging therapy include a tumor diameter greater than 3 cm, more than one tumor, and having an AFP slope greater than 15 ng/m L per month or > 50 ng/m L for three months during strict monitoring while on the WL. When considering the inclusion of patients on the WL who do not meet the MC, it is mandatory to determine their eligibility for downstaging therapy prior to inclusion. The upper limit for this therapy could be one lesion up to 8 cm, 2-3 lesions with a total tumor diameter up to 8 cm, or a total tumor volume of 115 cm^3. Lastly, liver allocation and the prioritization of patients with HCC onthe WL should take into account the recently described HCC model for end-stage liver disease, which considers hepatic function, HCC size and the number and the log of AFP values. This formula has been calibrated with the survival data of non-HCC patients and produces a dynamic and more accurate assessment model.

Correction:Plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein and neurofilament light chain for the diagnostic and prognostic evaluation of frontotemporal dementia

Correction:Translational Neurodegeneration(2021)10:50 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40035-021-00275-w Following publication of this article[1],the below fund-ing information is missing.European Union’s Horizon 2020,’MES-CoBraD’(H2020-SC1-BHC-2018-2020/GA 965422 to JF).The original article[1]has been corrected.

Plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein and neurofilament light chain for the diagnostic and prognostic evaluation of frontotemporal dementia

Background:Astrocytes play an essential role in neuroinflammation and are involved in the pathogenesis of neurodenegerative diseases.Studies of glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP),an astrocytic damage marker,may help advance our understanding of different neurodegenerative diseases.In this study,we investigated the diagnostic performance of plasma GFAP(pGFAP),plasma neurofilament light chain(pNfL)and their combination for frontotemporal dementia(FTD)and Alzheimer's disease(AD)and their clinical utility in predicting disease progression.Methods:pGFAP and pNfL concentrations were measured in 72 FTD,56 AD and 83 cognitively normal(CN)participants using the Single Molecule Array technology.Of the 211 participants,199 underwent cerebrospinal(CSF)analysis and 122 had magnetic resonance imaging.We compared cross-sectional biomarker levels between groups,studied their diagnostic performance and assessed correlation between CSF biomarkers,cognitive performance and cortical thickness.The prognostic performance was investigated,analyzing cognitive decline through group comparisons by tertile.Results:Unlike pNfL,which was increased similarly in both clinical groups,pGFAP was increased in FTD but lower than in AD(all P<0.01).Combination of both plasma markers improved the diagnostic performance to discriminate FTD from AD(area under the curve[AUC]:combination 0.78;pGFAP 0.7;pNfL 0.61,all P<0.05).In FTD,pGFAP correlated with cognition,CSF and plasma NfL,and cortical thickness(all P<0.05).The higher tertile of pGFAP was associated with greater change in MMSE score and poor cognitive outcome during follow-up both in FTD(1.40 points annually,hazard ratio[HR]3.82,P<0.005)and in AD(1.20 points annually,HR 2.26,P<0.005).Conclusions:pGFAP and pNfL levels differ in FTD and AD;and their combination is useful for distinguishing between the two diseases.pGFAP could also be used to track disease severity and predict greater cognitive decline during follow-up in patients with FTD.