title: Meta-analysis of the efficacy of sorafenib for hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  By carrying out a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials that compared sorafenib or combined chemotherapy with placebo or combined chemotherapy, the effectiveness of sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma was evaluated in the present study, which also provided clinical practice guidelines of evidence-based-medicine.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed PubMed citations concerning sorafenib treating hepatocellular carcinoma in randomized controlled trials from Jan 2000 to July 2012. All the literature was extracted by Cochrane systematic reviews and underwent meta-analysis with RewMan 5.0 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Finally, four papers documenting randomized controlled studies were included. Compared with controls, sorafenib was shown to significantly increase overall survival (OS), time to progression (TTP), and disease control rates (DCR), but not the time to symptom progression (TTSP) in hepatocellular carcinoma patients. The incidence of grade-III/IV adverse reactions, including hand- foot-skin reactions, diarrhea, hypertension and skin rash or desquamation, in sorafenib treatment group was higher than that in controls. However, there was no significant difference in the incidence of hypodynamia between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sorafenib exerts significant curative effects in hepatocellular carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Digestion, Chengdu Military General Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. wxllady@163.com
authors.forename: Zhao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiao-Ling
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Wei-Zheng
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Gui-Sen
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.forename: Juan-Ni
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Ming-De
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced; D018476:Hypokinesia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009536:Niacinamide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D000077157:Sorafenib; D013534:Survival
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D009536:Niacinamide; D000077157:Sorafenib; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor