Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36998293›Full record

ArticleAnnals of gastroenterological surgery2023

Bridging and downstaging with TACE in early and intermediate stage hepatocellular carcinoma: Predictors of receiving a liver transplant.

Chao Yin, Samantha Armstrong, Richard Shin, Xue Geng, Hongkun Wang, Rohit S Satoskar, Thomas Fishbein, Coleman Smith, Filip Banovac, Alexander Y Kim and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Annals of gastroenterological surgery, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Improving surgical treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma.Nature reviews. Gastroenterology & hepatology · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Chao YinRuesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center Georgetown University Washington District of Columbia USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1742-7054
Samantha ArmstrongRuesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center Georgetown University Washington District of Columbia USA.
Richard ShinRuesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center Georgetown University Washington District of Columbia USA.
Xue GengDepartment of Biostatistics Georgetown University Washington District of Columbia USA.
Hongkun WangDepartment of Biostatistics Georgetown University Washington District of Columbia USA.
Rohit S SatoskarMedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute Washington District of Columbia USA.
Thomas FishbeinMedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute Washington District of Columbia USA.
Coleman SmithMedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute Washington District of Columbia USA.
Filip BanovacDepartment of Radiology Georgetown University Medical Center Washington District of Columbia USA.
Alexander Y KimDepartment of Radiology Georgetown University Medical Center Washington District of Columbia USA.
Aiwu Ruth HeRuesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center Georgetown University Washington District of Columbia USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2104-0816

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background and Aims: In patients with surgically unresectable early and intermediate stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), only liver transplant (LT) offers a cure. Locoregional therapies, such as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), are widely used to bridge patients waiting for an LT or downstage tumors beyond Milan Criteria (MC). However, there are no formal guidelines on the number of TACE procedures patients should receive. Our study explores the extent to which repeated TACE might offer diminishing gains toward LT. Approach: We retrospectively analyzed 324 patients with BCLC stage A and B HCC who had received TACE with the intention of disease downstaging or bridging to LT. In addition to baseline demographics, we collected data on LT status, survival, and the number of TACE procedures. Overall survival (OS) rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and correlative studies were calculated using chi-square or Fisher's exact test. Results: Out of 324 patients, 126 (39%) received an LT, 32 (25%) of whom had responded favorably to TACE. LT significantly improved OS: HR 0.174 (0.094-0.322, Conclusions: An increased number of TACE procedures may have diminishing returns in preparing patients for LT. Our study suggests that alternatives to LT, such as novel systemic therapies, should be considered for patients whose cancers are beyond MC after three TACE procedures.

Indexed as

downstagehepatocellular carcinomaliver transplantMilan Criteriatransarterial chemoembolization

Identifiers

PMID36998293
PMCPMC10043769

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.