Radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma: A meta analysis

Abstract

AIM: To evaluate survival and recurrence after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using a meta-analysis.

METHODS: Literature on RFA vs surgical resection for the treatment of small HCC published between January 1990 and December 2008 was retrieved. A meta-analysis was conducted to estimate pooled survival and recurrence ratios. A fixed or random effect model was established to collect the data.

RESULTS: The differences in overall survival at 1-year, 3-years and at end of follow-up were not statistically significant between the RFA and surgery groups (P > 0.05). There were no differences in 1-year and 3-year recurrences between the RFA and surgery groups (P > 0.05). However, recurrence in the RFA group was lower than that in the surgery group up to the end of follow-up (P = 0.03). Survival was not significantly different. There was a significant difference in recurrences at the end of follow-up after RFA compared with surgical resection.

CONCLUSION: RFA did not decrease the number of overall recurrences, and had no effect on survival when compared with surgical resection in a selected group of patients.

INTRODUCTION

The preferred treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is surgical resection which has a good long-term effect. In recent years, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has emerged as the latest oriented treatment, especially for HCC, and has become an important treatment following surgical resection and has established its place in the treatment algorithm of liver tumors. The treatment of HCC in patients with chronic liver disease is a major challenge. With the intention of avoiding hepatic failure which can appear after hepatic resection, percutaneous ablative treatments have been proposed. RFA ablation has progressively reached consensus due to its efficacy, tolerability and low-risk[1]. RFA is much less invasive, involves a short hospital stay and has an extremely low associated mortality; however, long-term results are difficult to ascertain, because the majority of reports concern evaluation of the percentage of success in terms of tumor necrosis and few data are available on the overall and disease-free survival of patients[2-6]. Clear evidence is still needed for RFA to be accepted as an alternative to surgery for resectable HCC on cirrhosis. Few studies have focused on a comparison between the results of surgery and RFA. In order to reduce research bias and differences, we used a meta-analysis to compare survival and recurrences following RFA compared with surgical resection for the treatment of small HCC. This article may provide a reference for clinical practice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data accrual

We carried out an exhaustive Medline, PubMed, CBM and CNKI search of the world literature comparing survival and recurrences following RFA compared with surgical resection for the treatment of small HCC, between the period January 1990 to December 2008 using the key words (radiofrequency, radio-frequency or radio frequency), (surgical resection or hepatectomy) and (liver or hepatic or hepatocellular) in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Danish, Dutch, Korean and Chinese. All abstract supplements from published literature were searched manually. Relevant papers were also identified from the reference lists of previous papers which were obtained through the search, and from abstracts from recent international meetings.

In the case of overlap between 2 reports, only the most detailed report was included. Only series with a minimum follow-up of 12 mo were included. Reports about treatments obtained with noncommercial electrodes and treatments with palliative intent (intentional partial debulking) were excluded. When appropriate, authors were contacted to obtain more details about the cases they reported.

In addition, we chose some Chinese articles, as there are many patients with small HCC in China. A good meta-analysis requires these data.

Data extraction and quality assessment

Data were extracted by two or three independent observers using standardized forms. The recorded data included the number of patients, overall survival and recurrence. The quality of all selected articles was ranked in accordance with the score of the non-randomized controlled clinical trial quality evaluation standard (Table 1).

Table 1.

Outcome data and methodological quality of studies included in the meta-analysis

Author	Yr	Study design	RFA (cases)	Hepatectomy (cases)	Journal	Quality evaluation score1
Peng et al[8]	2008	Retrospective study	251	183	Zhongguo Shiyong Waike Zazhi	7
Vivarelli et al[9]	2004	Cohort study	58	40	Ann Surg	7
Zhang et al[10]	2007	Retrospective study	15	29	Disan Junyi Daxue Xuebao	7
Zhou et al[11]	2007	Retrospective study	47	40	Gandan Waike Zazhi	7
Guglielmi et al[12]	2008	Retrospective study	109	91	J Gastrointest Surg	7
Montorsi et al[13]	2005	Cohort study	79	79	J Gastrointest Surg	7
Hong et al[14]	2005	Cohort study	55	93	J Clin Gastroenterol	9
Wakai et al[15]	2006	Retrospective study	21	85	World J Gastroenterol	7
Cho et al[16]	2005	Retrospective study	99	61	Korean J Hepatol	9
Gao et al[17]	2007	Retrospective study	53	34	Zhongguo Yixue Yingxiang Jishu Zazhi	9

¹The score from the non-randomized controlled clinical trial quality evaluation standard. RFA: Radiofrequency ablation.

Study selection criteria

Inclusion criteria for this study were as follows: (1) A solitary HCC smaller than 5 cm in diameter or multiple (no more than three) HCC smaller than 5 cm in total diameter; (2) No extrahepatic metastasis; (3) No radiologic evidence of invasion into the major portal/hepatic vein branches; (4) Good liver function with Child-Pugh Class A or B, with no history of encephalopathy, ascites refractory to diuretics or variceal bleeding; (5) No previous treatment of HCC; (6) Patient should be suitable for treatment with either surgical resection or RFA; and (7) No recurrences where no tumor was found by spiral computed tomography and serum α-fetoprotein level when assessed every 3 mo after treatment during the follow-up period.

Statistical analysis

Meta-analysis was performed using fixed-effect or random-effect methods, depending on the absence or presence of significant heterogeneity. Statistical heterogeneity between trials was evaluated by the Cochran χ² test and was considered significant when P < 0.10. In the absence of statistically significant heterogeneity, the Mantel-Haenszel method in the fixed-effect model was used for the meta analysis. Otherwise, the DerSimonian and Laird method in the random-effect model was selected.

The odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to assess treatment efficacy. The combined result was an average OR and 95% CI weighted according to the standard error of the OR of the trial. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. We used funnel plots to assess the publication bias, and tested for funnel plot asymmetry using Egger’s test and Begg’s test. All analyses were performed with STATA version 9.0 (Stata Co., College Station, TX, USA) and Review Manager version 4.2.2 (RevMan, Cochrane Collaboration, Oxford, England).

RESULTS

Description of included trials in the meta-analysis

According to exclusion and selected criteria of historical data, 10 studies were selected for the meta analysis, including 787 cases of RFA and 735 cases of surgical resection. However, one publication[7] was removed, because the number of cases continued to expand in another publication[8]. Among the 10 articles selected, 4 (40%) were from China, and corresponded to the high incidence of Hepatitis B virus-associated HCC in China. The characteristics of the 10 clinical trials included are shown in Table 1.

Meta-analysis

The comparison of survival and recurrence following RFA vs surgical resection for the treatment of small HCC using the meta-analysis is shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 [8-17].

Figure 1.

Fixed effect model of odds ratio for survival during follow-up 1-year after treatment: Radiofrequency ablation vs hepatectomy. RFA: Radiofrequency ablation.

Figure 2.

Random effect model of odds ratio for survival of follow-up 3-year (A) and at the end of follow-up (B) after treatment: Radiofrequency ablation vs hepatectomy. RFA: Radiofrequency ablation.

Figure 3.

Random effect model of odds ratio for Recurrence of follow-up 1-year (A) and 3-year (B) and the end of follow-up (C) after treatment: Radiofrequency ablation vs hepatectomy. RFA: Radiofrequency ablation.

Survival during follow-up 1 year after treatment: The χ² test of heterogeneity was highly significant (P = 0.95). Accordingly, a fixed-effect model was used. There was no difference in the 1-year overall survival rate between the RFA group (87.9%) and the surgical resection group (88.6%) with a combined OR of 0.94 (95% CI: 0.65 to 1.36, P = 0.75, Figure 1).

Survival during follow-up 3-year after treatment: The χ² test of heterogeneity was highly significant (P = 0.0002). Accordingly, a random-effect model was used. There was no difference in the 3-year overall survival rate between the RFA group (62.5%) and the surgical resection group (63.6%) with a combined OR of 0.92 (95% CI: 0.56 to 1.51, P = 0.73, Figure 2A).

Survival up to the end of the follow-up period: The χ² test of heterogeneity was highly significant (P < 0.0001). Accordingly, a random-effect model was used. There was no difference in overall survival rate at the end of follow-up after treatment with RFA (57.4%) compared with surgical resection (60.9%) with a combined OR of 0.82 (95% CI: 0.48 to 1.39, P = 0.46, Figure 2B).

Recurrence during follow-up 1-year after treatment: The χ² test of heterogeneity was highly significant (P = 0.07). Accordingly, a fixed-effect model was used. There was no difference in recurrence rate during follow-up 1-year after treatment between the RFA group (20.6%) and the surgical resection group (20.9%) with a combined OR of 0.96 (95% CI: 0.69 to 1.33, P = 0.80, Figure 3A).

Recurrence during follow-up 3-year after treatment: The χ² test of heterogeneity was highly significant (P < 0.0001). Accordingly, a random-effect model was used. There was no difference in recurrence rate during follow-up 3-years after treatment between the RFA group (59.4%) and the surgical resection group (60.4%) with a combined OR of 1.19 (95% CI: 0.63 to 2.27, P = 0.59, Figure 3B).

Recurrence up to the end of the follow-up period: The χ² test of heterogeneity was highly significant (P = 0.0005). Accordingly, a random-effect model was used. The recurrence rate up to the end of the follow-up period was significantly higher in the RFA group (66.7%) than in the surgical resection group (52.9%) with a combined OR of 1.73 (95% CI: 1.04 to 2.87, P = 0.03, Figure 3C).

Sensitivity analysis and publication bias

Publication bias may exist when no significant findings remain unpublished, thus artificially inflating the apparent magnitude of an effect.

Survival and recurrences following RFA or surgical resection for the treatment of small HCC were calculated by the fixed-effect model and random-effect model, respectively. The results were similar and the combined results were highly reliable.

Funnel plots of the study results are shown in Figure 4A-F. The funnel plots on survival and recurrence following RFA or surgical resection for the treatment of small HCC showed basic symmetry, which suggested no publication bias.

Figure 4.

Funnel plots. A: 7 articles in the meta-analysis of survival during follow-up 1-year after treatment; B: 8 articles in the meta-analysis of survival during follow-up 3-years after treatment; C: 9 articles in the meta-analysis of survival up to the end of follow-up; D: 5 articles in the meta-analysis of recurrence during follow-up 1-year after treatment; E: 6 articles in the meta-analysis of recurrence during follow-up 3-years after treatment; F: 8 articles in the meta-analysis of recurrence up to the end of follow-up.

DISCUSSION

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of most common malignant tumors of the liver. According to the general condition of patients, tumor location and size and liver function status, surgery can include radical tumor resection, or liver surgery such as local excision. However, there are factors that limit the use of surgical resection. RFA is a relatively new treatment and is now performed more widely, because it results in large coagulated necrosis of the tumor, requires fewer treatment sessions, and achieves higher survival rates[18,19].

RFA has the potential to enhance the long-term survival rate of liver cancer patients worldwide and is of significant importance[20]. Research has indicated that more than 90% of the tumor can be completely destroyed and tumor recurrence in situ is effectively inhibited following RFA, which also achieved satisfactory short-term efficacy[21]. Long-term survival following RFA treatment was satisfactory in liver cancer patients as was liver function in those with A-class[22]. The efficacy of RFA was also shown to be related to Child-Pugh grading[23]. Compared with surgery, RFA did not cause significant liver function damage, had a lower rate of complications and was more affordable in terms of treatment costs. The results of this study showed that RFA did not decrease overall recurrences, but had no effect on survival in comparison with surgical resection (i.e. compared with surgical resection, RFA showed no significant difference in the short-term survival rate).

This review has some limitations. Funnel plots can be suggestive of publication bias with lack of negative small RCTs. However, a firm conclusion about bias is difficult to reach as the asymmetry of the funnel plot is minimal. In addition, funnel plots can show asymmetry for reasons other than publication bias. Therefore, our pooled OR might be an overestimate of the true effect. Due to data constraints, this meta-analysis could not analyze the quality of life score and was unable to carry out stratified analyses of other possible confounding factors. If the method is to be more effective, then larger samples and randomized controlled studies with longer follow-up are required[24]. Chinese article should also be chosen, because there are many patients with small HCC in China. A good meta-analysis requires these data. However, the conclusions of this study also need more detailed data to confirm the results. The search language was limited. The integrity of the data was affected to a certain extent.

In conclusion, with the development of RFA, when conditions permit and under technically assured circumstances, RFA can be performed percutaneously, laparoscopically or during laparotomy, and can partially replace surgical resection. For patients who do not have the opportunity or are unwilling to accept surgical treatment, RFA is an acceptable means of palliative care.

COMMENTS

Background

Over the last decade, radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFA) has established its place in the treatment algorithm of liver tumors. This meta-analysis was designed to evaluate survival and recurrence following RFA for the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Research frontiers

The study evaluated survival and recurrence following RFA for the treatment of HCC using a meta analysis of all relevant controlled studies.

Innovations and breakthroughs

The authors made a comprehensive search of studies dealing with small HCC treated with RFA. The studies were analyzed to determine survival and recurrence after RFA in these patients.

Applications

RFA is an effective technique for the treatment of small HCC and offers an alternative treatment method. This meta-analysis shows that RFA did not decrease overall recurrences, but had no effect on survival in comparison with surgical resection in a selected group of patients. Larger samples and randomized controlled studies with longer follow-up are required.

Peer review

This is an interesting report of RFA vs surgical resection for HCC.