Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40355829›Full record

SynthesisBMC gastroenterology2025

A network meta-analysis of different interventional treatment strategies for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

Xing-Yan Le, Jun-Bang Feng, Xiao-Li Yu, Sui-Li Li, Xiaocai Zhang, Jiaqing Li, Chuan-Ming Li

Abstract readNetwork Meta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC gastroenterology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–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

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
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

7 authors.

Xing-Yan Le *Medical Imaging Department, Chongqing Emergency Medical Center, Chongqing University Central Hospital, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, No. 1 Jiankang Road, Chongqing, 400014, China.
Jun-Bang Feng *Medical Imaging Department, Chongqing Emergency Medical Center, Chongqing University Central Hospital, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, No. 1 Jiankang Road, Chongqing, 400014, China.
Xiao-Li YuMedical Imaging Department, Chongqing Emergency Medical Center, Chongqing University Central Hospital, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, No. 1 Jiankang Road, Chongqing, 400014, China.
Sui-Li LiMedical Imaging Department, Chongqing Emergency Medical Center, Chongqing University Central Hospital, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, No. 1 Jiankang Road, Chongqing, 400014, China.
Xiaocai ZhangMedical Imaging Department, The 956th Hospital of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Xizang, China.
Jiaqing LiDepartment of Information, Chongqing Emergency Medical Center, Chongqing University Central Hospital, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.
Chuan-Ming LiMedical Imaging Department, Chongqing Emergency Medical Center, Chongqing University Central Hospital, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, No. 1 Jiankang Road, Chongqing, 400014, China. licm@cqu.edu.cn.

Funding

Natural Science Foundation Project of Chongqing, Chongqing Science and Technology Commission No. CSTB2024NSCQ-MSX1265
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe optimal clinical management of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) is challenging for clinicians. Bayesian network meta-analysis was conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of different interventional strategies for uHCC.

methodsA systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and CNKI databases. Bayesian network meta-analysis was applied to evaluate the disease control rate (DCR), 1-year survival rate and 2-year survival rate, as well as the incidence of serious adverse events associated with seven interventional strategies. Odds ratios (ORs) were estimated using pairwise and network meta-analysis with random effects. Treatment rankings utilized surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA), whereas heterogeneity was examined via I-square and meta-regression.

resultsA total of 40 randomized controlled studies were included. Compared with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) alone, all of the combination treatments, including TACE with radiofrequency ablation (RFA), microwave ablation (MWA), high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI), and radiotherapy (RT), significantly improved the DCR. TACE combined with RFA was observed to be superior to hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) (OR: 1.91; 95% CI: 1.03-3.81) and TACE (OR: 3.85; 95% CI: 2.66-5.69), with the highest probability (SUCRA 0.836). TACE combined with HIFU ranks highest 1-year survival (SUCRA 0.919) and 2-year survival (SUCRA 0.925) rates, and also exhibited a better 1-year survival rate than HAIC (OR: 2.99; 95% CI: 1.09-9.03). Compared with TACE alone, HAIC exhibited a greater DCR (OR: 2.02; 95% CI: 1.15-3.40) and a potential advantage in 2-year survival (OR: 1.95; 95% CI: 1.02-3.78). No significant differences in serious adverse events were observed across treatments.

conclusionsCompared with TACE alone, combined treatments for uHCC patients demonstrates better efficacy and survival. Moreover, compared with TACE and HAIC, TACE combined with RFA provides better efficacy, whereas TACE combined with HIFU offers the highest 1-year survival rate. HAIC alone outperforms TACE in DCR and 2-year survival rate.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, HepatocellularLiver NeoplasmsBayes TheoremCatheter AblationChemoembolization, TherapeuticCombined Modality TherapyHigh-Intensity Focused Ultrasound AblationHumansRadiofrequency AblationRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicSurvival RateTreatment OutcomeAblationHepatic arterial infusion chemotherapyHepatocellular carcinomaNetwork meta-analysisPercutaneous ethanol injectionRadiation therapyTransarterial chemoembolization

Identifiers

PMID40355829
PMCPMC12067877

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.