Objectives: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA) are widely used in combination with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in clinical practice. We aim to compare the efficacy and safety of TACE combined with RFA or MWA versus TACE monotherapy for intermediate-stage HCC.
Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library for relevant studies. The outcomes included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), local tumor control (LTC) rate, and major complication. Subgroup analysis for different TACE combination therapies was performed.
Results: Ten studies with 1799 patients with intermediate-stage HCC were included. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) for OS was in favor of TACE combination therapy (HR, 0.50, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.40-0.62). Specifically, the TACE combination therapy was associated with higher 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates. Regarding tumor progression, the TACE combination therapy showed significantly better PFS (HR, 0.47, 95% CI, 0.37-0.61) and higher 1-, 2- and 3-year PFS rates than TACE monotherapy. The pooled odds ratio (OR) for the LTC was also in favor of TACE combination therapy (OR, 0.36, 95% CI, 0.24-0.53). No significant difference was found between the two groups regarding the major complication rate (OR, 1.26, 95% CI, 0.74-2.16). These results were consistent across subgroups of TACE + RFA versus TACE and TACE + MWA versus TACE.
Conclusion: TACE combined with RFA or MWA can provide significantly better OS, PFS and LTC than TACE monotherapy for patients with intermediate-stage HCC, without increasing the risk of major complications.
Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma; meta-analysis; microwave ablation; radiofrequency ablation; transarterial chemoembolization.