SynthesisBMC cancer2025
PD-1 inhibitors improve the efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined with apatinib in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis.
Synthesis in BMC cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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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.
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.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Primary clear-cell carcinoma of the liver with gastric antrum metastasis: Integrated management with targeted therapy, immunotherapy and salvage surgery: A case report.Oncology letters · 2026Article
- Personalized peripheral vascular interventional embolization for tumor: tailoring treatment to improve outcomes.Frontiers in medicine · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe efficacy of adding programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors to transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with apatinib for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of incorporating PD-1 inhibitors into TACE combined with apatinib.
methodsRelevant literature on TACE combined with apatinib plus PD-1 inhibitors for advanced HCC was searched in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science databases. Trial sequential analysis (TSA) was conducted to minimize randomization errors and assess whether the meta-analysis provided conclusive evidence.
resultsSix studies involving 1,452 patients were included. Compared with the TACE combined with apatinib treatment group (T-A), TACE combined with apatinib plus PD-1 inhibitors (T-A-P) significantly prolonged overall survival (OS) (Hazard Ratio [HR] 2.22, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.93-2.56; p < 0.001) and progression-free survival (PFS) (HR 2.36, 95% CI 2.01-2.77; p < 0.001), while also improving the objective response rate (ORR) (risk ratios [RR] 1.60, 95% CI 1.20-2.14; p < 0.001) and disease control rate (DCR) (RR 1.06, 95% CI 1.00-1.12; p < 0.001). TSA results indicated that additional studies were required to confirm the significance of DCR. Prognostic analysis identified treatment regimen and extrahepatic metastasis as common independent risk factors for OS and PFS. The incidence of adverse events in the T-A-P treatment group was comparable to that in the T-A treatment group.
conclusionAdding PD-1 inhibitors to TACE combined with apatinib significantly prolonged OS and PFS, particularly in patients without extrahepatic metastases. It also improved ORR and DCR in patients with HCC.
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