Key clinical point: Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) plus transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) may be safe and more effective than either of the procedures alone (monotherapy) for treating inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT).
Major finding: SBRT plus TACE vs. monotherapy led to significantly higher overall survival (1-year: risk ratio [RR] 1.52; 95% CI 1.33-1.74; 2-year: RR 2.00; 95% CI 1.48-2.70) and objective response (RR 1.22; 95% CI 1.08-1.37) rates, a significantly lower disease progression rate (RR 0.45; 95% CI 0.26-0.79), and a similar adverse event incidence (RR 1.03; 95% CI 0.82-1.31).
Study details: This was a meta-analysis of nine studies involving 938 patients with inoperable HCC and PVTT who received SBRT plus TACE (n = 455) or monotherapy (n = 483).
Disclosures: The study was sponsored by Chinese Medical Hand in Hand Project Committee & Beijing Medical Award Foundation, among others. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Source: Zhang X-F et al. Stereotactic body radiotherapy plus transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma patients with portal vein tumour thrombus: A meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2022;17(5): e0268779 (May 20). Doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0268779