Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41479640›Full record

ArticleWorld journal of gastroenterology2025

Transarterial chemoembolization outcomes for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

Sanju Sobnach, Karla Christina Sousa Silva, Ebtesam Abdel-Rashid Abdel-Shafy, Muhammad Emmamally, Catherine Wendy Spearman, Marc Bernon, Mark W Sonderup, Keith Venter, Inae Kim, Urda Kotze and 5 more

Abstract readComparative Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in World journal of gastroenterology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

15 authors.

Sanju SobnachDepartment of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, Western Cape, South Africa.
Karla Christina Sousa SilvaCancer Genomics Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town 7925, Western Cape, South Africa.
Ebtesam Abdel-Rashid Abdel-ShafyBioinformatics Unit, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town 7925, Western Cape, South Africa.
Muhammad EmmamallyDepartment of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, Western Cape, South Africa.
Catherine Wendy SpearmanDepartment of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, Western Cape, South Africa.
Marc BernonDepartment of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, Western Cape, South Africa.
Mark W SonderupDepartment of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, Western Cape, South Africa.
Keith VenterDepartment of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, Western Cape, South Africa.
Inae KimDepartment of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, Western Cape, South Africa.
Urda KotzeDepartment of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, Western Cape, South Africa.
Rajshree SegobinDivision of Radiology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, Western Cape, South Africa.
Dale K CreamerDivision of Radiology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, Western Cape, South Africa.
Stefano CacciatoreBioinformatics Unit, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town 7925, Western Cape, South Africa.
Luiz Fernando ZerbiniCancer Genomics Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town 7925, Western Cape, South Africa. luiz.zerbini@icgeb.org.
Eduard JonasDepartment of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, Western Cape, South Africa.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and Southeast Asia account for 80% of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases globally. Public healthcare systems in low- and middle-income countries often face significant economic constraints, resulting in limited treatment options. The objectives of this study were to identify factors associated with poor outcomes in patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage C and D undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and to compare their outcomes to patients treated tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) or best supportive care (BSC) only.

aimTo assess clinical outcomes and identify predictive factors that may facilitate the broader implementation of TACE in patients with advanced HCC within resource-constrained settings such as SSA.

methodsA single-center, retrospective cohort study was conducted to investigate the risk factors associated with the outcome of TACE in patients with BCLC stage C and D using univariate and multivariate regression analysis. Frequency matching was used to ensure comparable distributions of confounding factors across patients treated with TACE, TKIs, or BSC. Survival analysis was performed to compare outcomes among the matched groups.

resultsPatients with BCLC stage C and D presenting with elevated gamma-glutamyl transferase levels or elevated aspartate aminotransferase levels or portal vein infiltration were identified as high-risk and demonstrated poor response to TACE treatment. In contrast, patients with BCLC stage C disease who lacked these high-risk features showed significantly longer overall survival when treated with TACE compared to those who received BSC or TKIs.

conclusionGamma-glutamyl transferase levels, aspartate aminotransferase levels, and portal vein infiltration are critical risk factors to consider when determining treatment strategies for HCC patients in SSA. Patients without these factors can derive significant benefits from TACE as an alternative to BSC or TKIs.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic AgentsCarcinoma, HepatocellularChemoembolization, TherapeuticLiver NeoplasmsProtein Kinase InhibitorsSorafenibAdultAfrica South of the SaharaAgedAspartate AminotransferasesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNeoplasm StagingPortal VeinAntineoplastic AgentsAspartate AminotransferasesProtein Kinase InhibitorsSorafenibBest supportive careHepatocellular carcinomaOutcomesTransarterial chemoembolizationTyrosine kinase inhibitor

Identifiers

PMID41479640
PMCPMC12754137

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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.