Meta-Analysis
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World J Gastroenterol. Dec 7, 2014; 20(45): 17206-17217
Published online Dec 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i45.17206
Conventional transarterial chemoembolization vs microsphere embolization in hepatocellular carcinoma: A meta-analysis
Jia-Yan Ni, Lin-Feng Xu, Wei-Dong Wang, Hong-Liang Sun, Yao-Ting Chen
Jia-Yan Ni, Lin-Feng Xu, Wei-Dong Wang, Hong-Liang Sun, Yao-Ting Chen, Department of Interventional Radiology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510210, Guangdong Province, China
Author contributions: Ni JY designed the study, analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript; Sun HL and Chen YT performed most of the literature searching and analysis; Wang WD provided vital analytical tools; and Xu LF designed the study and provided financial support for this work as corresponding author.
Correspondence to: Lin-Feng Xu, MD, PhD, Department of Interventional Radiology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 107 Yanjiang Road West, Guangzhou 510210, Guangdong Province, China. xu_lin_feng@163.com
Telephone: +86-20-81332269 Fax: +86-20-81332269
Received: March 10, 2014
Revised: April 19, 2014
Accepted: July 22, 2014
Published online: December 7, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: Microsphere embolization has been performed more and more widely for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Whether microsphere embolization or conventional transarterial chemoembolization (c-TACE) is the better choice has been debated. In this study, we performed a meta-analysis to comprehensively compare the efficacy and safety of microspheres embolization with those of c-TACE in HCC. Our analysis indicated that microsphere embolization was associated with superior survival and treatment response in comparison with c-TACE in patients with HCC. We hope that the comparison of these treatments could help stratify the benefits of treatment choices for patients with HCC.