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Meta-Analysis
. 2016 May 26:22:1773-81.
doi: 10.12659/msm.895548.

Improvement of Survival Rate for Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using Transarterial Chemoembolization in Combination with Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy: A Meta-Analysis

Houqiao Bai  1 , Peng Gao  1 , Hao Gao  2 , Guangxi Sun  1 , Chonghai Dong  1 , Jian Han  3 , Guosheng Jiang  4
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Improvement of Survival Rate for Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using Transarterial Chemoembolization in Combination with Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy: A Meta-Analysis

Houqiao Bai et al. Med Sci Monit. .

Abstract

BACKGROUND Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been used alone or in combination with three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT) for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The overall survival rate of HCC patients undergoing both treatments, however, has not been systematically studied. The aim of this meta-analysis-based study was to evaluate the overall efficacy of the combined therapy or monotherapy, thereby providing information for clinical treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS We searched Google Scholar, PubMed, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) for eligible studies, and a total of 17 case-control studies (including HCC patients treated by TACE plus 3DCRT or TACE alone) were included to perform the meta-analysis. Based on the available data, we assessed the improvements of 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year survival rate for the combination therapy of TACE and 3DCRT or TACE alone. Furthermore, the analysis was also stratified by the tumor response: complete response (CR), partial response (PR), no response (NR) and progressive disease (PD). Statistical analysis was performed using STATA 12 (Stata Statistical Software: Release 12). RESULTS The results show that HCC patients receiving combination therapy have significantly increased overall survival rate when compared to those receiving TACE alone (1-year survival rate: OR=1.95, 95% CI 1.54-2.47, p=7.3×10^-8; 2-year survival rate: OR=1.87, 95% CI 1.49-2.34, p=1.6×10^-7; 3-year survival rate: OR=2.00, 95% CI 1.52-2.64, p=1.8×10^-6). CONCLUSIONS Assessment of tumor response demonstrates that the combination therapy can efficiently increase the tumor response rate (CR+PR: OR=2.29, 95% CI 1.70-3.08, p=1.1×10^-7), with a lower rate of subsequent tumor development (PD: OR=0.25, 95% CI 0.15-0.40, p=5.5×10^-8).

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram of eligible studies included in the meta-analysis.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Forest plot of meta-analysis for the comparison of the combined therapy with TACE alone in terms of overall survival rates. (A) Meta-analysis of 1-year survival. (B) Meta-analysis of 2-year survival. (C) Meta-analysis of 3-year survival.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Forest plot of meta-analysis for the comparison of the combined therapy with TACE alone on tumor response. (A) Meta-analysis of CR+PR. (B) Meta-analysis of CR. (C) Meta-analysis of PR. (D) Meta-analysis of PD.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Begg’s funnel plot of meta-analysis for the comparison of the combined therapy with TACE alone in terms of overall survival rates. (A) One-year survival. (B) Two-year survival. (C) Three-year survival.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Begg’s funnel plot of meta-analysis for the comparison of the combined therapy with TACE alone on tumor response. (A) CR+PR. (B) CR. (C) PR. (D) PD.
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