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. 2018 Oct 25:11:7315-7321.
doi: 10.2147/OTT.S175715. eCollection 2018.

Radioembolization versus chemoembolization for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis of randomized trials

Andrea Casadei Gardini  1 , Emiliano Tamburini  2 , Mercedes Iñarrairaegui  3 , Giovanni Luca Frassineti  1 , Bruno Sangro  3
Affiliations

Radioembolization versus chemoembolization for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis of randomized trials

Andrea Casadei Gardini et al. Onco Targets Ther. .

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to compare clinically relevant outcomes following transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and transarterial radioembolization (TARE) in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using only prospective randomized clinical trials as a source of information.

Materials and methods: A meta-analysis was performed to compare the efficacy of TARE and TACE in treating patients with unresectable HCC. Only prospective randomized trials were included in the quantitative analysis. Overall and progression-free survival, disease control rate, and transplantation rate were the variables under analysis.

Results: Overall survival at 1 year was similar between the two treatment groups (OR =1.31, 95% CI: 0.56-3.04, P=0.53). Progression-free survival at 1 year was also not statistically different between the two treatments (OR =0.23, 95% CI: 0.02-2.45, P=0.22). Although a higher proportion of patients underwent transplantation in the TARE group (30% vs 20.8%), this difference was not statistically significant (OR =0.68, 95% CI: 0.23-2.01; P=0.49).

Conclusion: TARE and TACE provide similar outcomes in unresectable HCC. The role of TARE should be explored in selected patient subpopulations in future clinical trials.

Keywords: SIRT; TACE; TARE; outcome; selective internal radiation; transplantation rates.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure Mercedes Iñarrairaegui has received lecture fees from Bayer Healthcare. Bruno Sangro has received lecture or consult fees from SIRTEX Medical and BTG. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Process of selection of studies for the meta-analysis.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Forest plots of 1-year survival rate (A) and 1-year progression-free survival (B). Abbreviations: TACE, transarterial chemoembolization; TARE, transarterial radioembolization.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Forest plots of disease progression (A) and disease control rate (B). Abbreviations: TACE, transarterial chemoembolization; TARE, transarterial radioembolization.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Forest plots of transplantation rates. Abbreviations: TACE, transarterial chemoembolization; TARE, transarterial radioembolization.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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