Comparison of treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma patients with portal vein thrombosis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Sorafenib, hepatectomy, and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) are the recommended treatment for portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) patients. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to conduct a multi-treatment meta-analysis. The aim of the present study was to analyze the survival benefit of different treatments options on PVTT patients. METHODS: We systematically analyzed 12 randomized controlled trials (4,265 participants) from 2012 to 2019, which compared any of the following treatment options on PVTT patients: TACE, sorafenib, hepatectomy, sorafenib + TACE, hepatectomy + TACE, and sorafenib + hepatectomy. The main outcome was the 1-year survival rate of patients. RESULTS: The results of the rank probability of effectiveness showed that sorafenib + TACE was more likely to be the most effective treatment, sorafenib + TACE group was ranged rank 1 when compared with the others [hepatectomy group: odds ratio (OR): 0.79, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.03–18.26; hepatectomy + TACE group: OR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.01–13.59; sorafenib group: OR: 0.14, 95% CI 0.01–2.29, sorafenib + hepatectomy group: OR: 0.15, 95% CI: 0.00–24.88; and TACE group: OR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.02–9.88]. The second most effect treatment option was hepatectomy alone. DISCUSSION: Sorafenib + TACE is more likely to be the most effective treatment option, while hepatectomy alone is the second effective treatment option.