30-Second Takeaway
- Liver transplantation provides substantially better long-term survival than resection for hepatocellular carcinoma when grafts are available.
- Dexcom G6 CGM can support early post–liver transplant glucose management but should be time-limited to maintain accuracy.
- Advanced MRI, PK-guided ATG dosing, and CD34+ targeting offer emerging tools for fibrosis and GVHD risk modulation.
Week ending January 17, 2026
Targeted updates in liver, kidney, heart, and hematopoietic transplantation
Umbrella meta-analysis confirms liver transplant superiority over resection for HCC
This umbrella review synthesized four quantitative meta-analyses and one systematic review comparing liver transplantation (LT) with liver resection (LR) for hepatocellular carcinoma. Pooled hazard ratios favored LT for overall survival (HR 1.35; 95% CI 1.17–1.55; values >1 favor LT) and disease-free survival (HR 2.58; 95% CI 2.25–2.96). Superiority of LT was consistent across Milan and extended criteria, viral etiologies, eras, and geographic regions, including intention-to-treat analyses. The authors conclude LT should be the preferred curative strategy for eligible HCC patients, with LR reserved where graft availability or access is limiting.
Continuous glucose monitoring is feasible and accurate early after liver transplantation
This randomized trial compared unblinded versus blinded Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitoring in 142 liver transplant recipients in the immediate postoperative ICU. Mean absolute relative difference versus arterial blood gas glucose was 9.1% in the active group and 10.7% in the blinded group, indicating acceptable accuracy. About 90% of active-group readings and 85.3% of blinded-group readings fell in Diabetes Technology Society error grid zone A. Accuracy peaked on postoperative days 2–3 and declined from day 7 onward in both groups.
Haploidentical and mismatched unrelated donors show comparable outcomes under RIC allo-HCT
This multicenter GETH-TC/EBMT study compared haploidentical donors with mismatched unrelated donors (MMUD) in reduced-intensity conditioning allogeneic HSCT. Two-year graft-versus-host disease and relapse-free survival was similar among haploidentical, MMUD with PTCy, and MMUD with other prophylaxis (47%, 52%, and 43%; p=0.8). Two-year overall survival and disease-free survival did not differ significantly between donor groups, nor did relapse or non-relapse mortality. Non-relapse mortality contributed more to GRFS failure after haploidentical HSCT, whereas relapse dominated GRFS failure after MMUD transplants.
References
Numbered in order of appearance. Click any reference to view details.
Additional Reads
Optional additional studies from this edition.