Efficacy and safety of Huaier granules combined with chemotherapy for gastric cancer: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Huaier granules, the aqueous product of Huaier (Trametes robiniophila Murr.) extract, are a broad-spectrum anti-tumor drug and have been widely used for the treatment of gastric cancer (GC). The aim of this study is to systematically investigate the efficacy and safety of Huaier granules combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of GC. METHODS: Three English databases and four Chinese databases will be searched from its inception to July 2020. Two methodological trained researchers will select the qualified studies for data extraction independently. Cochrane Risk of Bias tool will be used to assess the risk of bias of included studies. The RevMan 5.2 and stata 14.0 software will be applied for statistical analyses. Statistical heterogeneity will be computed by Cochrane X(2) and I(2) tests. Sensitivity analysis will be conducted to evaluate the stability of the results. The publication bias will be evaluated by funnel plots and Egger's test. The quality of evidence will be assessed by the GRADE system. RESULTS: The results of our research will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. CONCLUSION: The conclusion of our systematic review will provide evidence to judge whether Huaier granules combined with chemotherapy is an effective intervention for patient with GC. OSF REGISTRATION NUMBER: 10.17605/OSF.IO/9BVJD.