Bruix 2012.

Study characteristics
Methods	Randomised clinical trial.
Participants	Country: multi‐centric, international. Number randomised: 105. Post‐randomisation dropouts: 0 (0%). Revised sample size: 105. Mean age: 69 years. Females: 16 (15.2%). Cirrhosis: not stated. Portal hypertension: not stated. Viral aetiology: 39 (37.1%). Immunotherapy/antiviral adjuvant therapy: not stated. Mean follow‐up period (for all groups): not stated. Criteria for intermediate‐stage HCC and other inclusion criteria: Authors clearly stated BCLC stage B but no further details available in the manuscript.
Interventions	Participants were randomly assigned to 2 groups. Group 1: sorafenib (n = 54). Further details: chemotherapy: sorafenib 400 mg twice daily until radiological or symptomatic progression. Group 2: placebo (n = 51).
Outcomes	Mortality.
Notes
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	Quote: "Study randomization was centralized, and assignment to study groups was conducted by computer to achieve a balance between the two groups".
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Low risk	Quote: "Study randomization was centralized, and assignment to study groups was conducted by computer to achieve a balance between the two groups".
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Quote: "phase 3, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial…All eligible patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive continuous oral treatment with either 400 mg of sorafenib (consisting of two 200‐mg tablets) twice daily or matching placebo".
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Quote: "phase 3, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial…All eligible patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive continuous oral treatment with either 400 mg of sorafenib (consisting of two 200‐mg tablets) twice daily or matching placebo".
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Comment: there were no post‐randomisation dropouts.
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	High risk	Comment: morbidity was not reported.
For‐profit bias	High risk	Quote: "The study was designed by Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals in conjunction with the principal academic investigators".
Other bias	Low risk	Comment: no other bias noted.