Overview

Intro

The present clinical research protocol is part of the LEOPARD European project (Grant n° 101080964 Horizon Europe) which aims to design and validate new predictive models of mortality among liver transplantation (LT) candidates. MELD based-liver graft allocation systems have become increasingly inaccurate over the last decade to predict mortality/dropout of liver transplantation (LT) candidates on the waitlist (WL). Wide disparities in mortality/dropout on the WL also exist across European countries, ranging from 5 to 30% according to transplantation indications and countries. In this setting, the European Commission- Horizon Europe funded-LEOPARD project intends to design new, 2nd generation, AI-machine learning-based predictive models of delisting in LT candidates, to better serve on time patients with the highest risk of dropout on the WL and to improve equity of access to LT across Europe.

Hypothesis/Objective:

The scientific justification of the LEOPARD TVDCS is therefore to collect a large set of data in liver transplantation candidates listed in Europe a) to design and b) to validate LEOPARD 2nd generation AI-based predictive models of mortality/dropout The primary objective is to develop new predictive models of mortality/drop out on the waitlist in patients with decompensated cirrhosis, or other end-stage chronic liver diseases, and in patients listed for Hepato-cellular carcinoma (HCC).

Method

Longitudinal multicenter prospective health care data collection cohort study in 2 sets : Training/development set : Prospective health care data collection in 3,000 patients listed in 50 centres across 7 countries and Validation set: Prospective health care data collection in 1,500 subsequent patients listed in the same 50 centres.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult [age 18;70] patients listed for:
  • decompensated cirrhosis as primary diagnosis, irrespective of liver disease etiology (subset 1) OR
  • other chronic end-stage liver diseases requiring LT, to be listed under a MELD-based allocation system (examples: primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis etc...) (subset 2) OR
  • HCC* as primary diagnosis, whatever the etiology of the underlying liver disease with or without underlying cirrhosis (subset 3). (HCC diagnosed on Barcelona/EASL criteria or histologically proven. HCC meeting or not Milan criteria, as per center practice.)
• Patients registered on national waiting lists under the MELD offering schemes,

  regardless of extra MELD points and MELD exceptions are affected or not.

• Patient (or trusted person, family member or close relation, if the patient is unable to be informed) who has been informed and did not express opposition to data collection

(*Of note, enrolment of patients with T1 tumors (1 single tumor < 2 cm diameter) not amenable to loco-regional therapies because of decompensation, and prioritized under the MELD system, will be allowed in Subset 1.)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Tumor vascular invasion (portal or hepatic veins) evidenced by imaging at pre transplantation work-up, including portal vein thrombosis stage 1
• Extra-hepatic metastasis of HCC, as assessed by sectional imaging, functional imaging (18 FDG PET CT/MRI) or histologically proven
• Patients who are under safeguard of justice or tutorship or curatorship
• Patient on AME (state medical aid)
• Participation to LEOPARD PVC 1 study of WP2