Quantitative literature analysis on efficacy and safety of balloon-occluded transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Abstract

<h4>Aim</h4>To analyze the efficacy and safety of balloon-occluded transarterial chemoembolization (B-TACE) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).<h4>Methods</h4>We searched English databases, assessed the quality of the selected studies, analyzed the extracted data, tested heterogeneity of data, explored the resources of heterogeneity, and tested publication bias.<h4>Results</h4>After inclusion and exclusion criterion, totally 7 studies included in our analysis. The numbers of complete response (CR) in B-TACE were significantly more than in Non B-TACE (P = 0.003). There were no significant difference in partial response (PR), stable disease (SD) and progressive disease (PD) between B-TACE and Non B-TACE. Moderate heterogeneity existed in CR and PR (I² = 60%). Low heterogeneity existed in SD (I² = 36%). Heterogeneity did not exist in PD (I² = 0%). The numbers of treatment effect (TE) 4-1 in B-TACE were significantly more than in Non B-TACE, respectively (P = 0.000007, P < 0.00001). Heterogeneity did not exist in TE4 (I² = 0%). Low heterogeneity existed in T3 - 1 (I² = 48%). The numbers of post embolization syndrome(PES) in B-TACE were significantly more than in Non B-TACE, respectively(P = 0.000007, P < 0.00001). There were no significant difference in adverse events (AEs) of grade 3 and 2 between B-TACE and Non B-TACE, respectively(P = 0.57, 0.12). High heterogeneity existed in PES (I² = 76%). Moderate heterogeneity existed in AEs of grade 2(I² = 57%). Heterogeneity did not exist in AEs of grade 3(I² = 0%).<h4>Conclusion</h4>B-TACE was safe. It showed promising efficacy in achieving higher CR rates in short term compared to Non B-TACE.