Transarterial (chemo)embolization for curative resection of hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analyses

• Published in: Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology 2014-07, Vol.140 (7), p.1159-1170
• Main Authors: Cheng, Xiang, Sun, Ping, Hu, Qing-Gang, Song, Zi-Fang, Xiong, Jun, Zheng, Qi-Chang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cancer Research; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - mortality; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - therapy; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic - adverse effects; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic - methods; Chemotherapy; Embolization, Therapeutic - adverse effects; Embolization, Therapeutic - methods; Endovascular Procedures - adverse effects; Endovascular Procedures - methods; Hematology; Humans; Internal Medicine; Liver cancer; Liver Neoplasms - mortality; Liver Neoplasms - therapy; Medical procedures; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Oncology; Postoperative Complications - epidemiology; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic - statistics & numerical data; Review – Clinical Oncology; Side effects; Surgery; Survival Analysis; Systematic review
• ISSN: 0171-5216; 1432-1335
• DOI: 10.1007/s00432-014-1677-4

Purpose To assess the beneficial and harmful effects of transarterial embolization (TAE) or transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for curative resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods The authors conducted an extensive search of studies on this strategy. All randomized controlled trials comparing TACE or TAE plus operation versus operation only were considered for inclusion, regardless of blinding, language, or publication status. Results were performed with disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) as the primary endpoint. Tumor response and adverse events were secondary endpoints. Results A total of 10 studies involving 909 HCC participants finally fulfilled the predefined inclusion criteria. Four trials assessed preoperative TACE versus control and six trials assessed postoperative TACE versus control. There were significant improvements for DFS [HR 0.62 (95 % CI 0.49–0.79)] and OS [HR 0.60 (0.46–0.79)] in the postoperative TACE compared with the control when the mean tumor size was bigger than 5 cm. However, preoperative TACE did not improve DFS [HR 0.92 (0.71–1.20)] and OS [HR 1.07 (0.78–1.46)] for curative resection of HCC. Substantial differences in criteria for assessing tumor response did not allow quantitative analyses. Fever (26.7–85.9 %), abdominal pain (19.3–71.2 %), and nausea/vomiting (27.4–66.3 %) were common adverse events. Relatively rare but more serious complications were also reported. Conclusions Postoperative TACE offers potential benefits for curative resection of HCC when the mean tumor size is bigger than 5 cm.