AIM: To assess pre-orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) factors that could be evaluated pre-operatively or con- trolled post-operatively associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence and disease-free survival after liver transplantation (LT).METHODS: Four hundred and twelve patients trans- planted for HCC between 1988 and 1998 in 14 French centers, who survived the postoperative period were studied. Kaplan Meier estimates were calculated for 24 variables potentially associated with recurrence of HCC. Uni- and multivariate analyses were conducted to iden- tify independent predictors of recurrence. RESULTS: Overall 5-year disease-free survival was 57.1%. By univariate analysis, variables associated with disease-free survival were: presence of cirrhosis (P = 0.001), etiology of liver disease (P = 0.03), α fetoprotein level (< 200, 200 to 2000, or > 2000; P < 0.0001), γ-GT activity (N, N to 2N or > 2N; P = 0.02), the number of nodules (1, 2-3 or ≥ 4; P = 0.02), maximal diameter of the largest nodule (< 3 cm, 3 to 5 cm or > 5 cm; P < 0.0001), the sum of the diameter of the nodules (< 3 cm, 3 to 5 cm, 5 to 10 cm or >10 cm; P < 0.0001), bi- lobar location (P = 0.01), preoperative portal thrombosis (P < 0.0001), peri-operative treatment of the tumor (P = 0.002) and chemoembolization (P = 0.03), tumor differentiation (P = 0.01), initial type of calcineurin inhibitor (P = 0.003), the use of antilymphocyte antibodies (P = 0.02), rejection episodes (P = 0.003) and period of LT (P < 0.0001). By multivariate analysis, 6 variables were independently associated with HCC recurrence: maximal diameter of the largest nodule (P < 0.0001), time of LT (P < 0.0001), tumor differentiation (P < 0.0001), use of anti-lymphocyte antibody (ATG) or anti-CD3 antibody (OKT3) (P = 0.005), preoperative portal thrombosis (P = 0.06) and the number of nodules (P = 0.06). CONCLUSION: This study identif ies immunosuppression, through the use of ATG or OKT3, as a predictive factor of tumor recurrence, and confi rms the prognostic value of tumor differentiation. AIM: To assess pre-othotopic liver transplantation (OLT) factors that could be be pre-operatively or con- trolled post-operatively associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence and disease-free survival after liver transplantation (LT). METHODS: Four Hundred and twelve patients trans- planted for HCC between 1988 and 1998 in 14 French centers, who survived the postoperative period were studied. Kaplan Meier estimates were calculated for 24 variables potentially associated with recurrence of HCC. Uni- and multivariate analyzes conducted conducted to iden RESULTS: The overall 5-year disease-free survival was 57.1%. By univariate analysis, variables associated with disease-free survival were: presence of cirrhosis (P = 0.001), etiology of liver disease (P = 0.03), αfetoprotein level (<200, 200 to 2000, or> 2000; P <0.0001), γ-GT activity (N, N to 2N or> 2N; -3 or ≥ 4; P = 0.02), maximal di ameter of the largest nodule (<3 cm, 3 to 5 cm or> 5 cm; P <0.0001), the sum of the diameter of the nodules (<3 cm, 3 to 5 cm, 5 to 10 cm or> 10 cm ; P <0.0001), bi-lobar location (P = 0.01), preoperative portal thrombosis (P <0.0001), peri-operative treatment of the tumor (P = 0.002) and chemoembolization 0.01), initial type of calcineurin inhibitor (P = 0.003), the use of antilymphocyte antibodies (P = 0.02), rejection episodes (P = 0.003) and period of LT associated with HCC recurrence: maximal diameter of the largest nodule (P <0.0001), time of LT (P <0.0001), tumor differentiation (P <0.0001), use of anti-lymphocyte antibody (ATG) CONCLUSION: This study found that immunosuppression, through the use of ATG or OKT3, as a predictive factor of tumo (P = 0.005), preoperative portal thrombosis (P = 0.06) and the number of nodules r recurrence, and confi rms the prognostic value of tumor differentiation.