Timely meta-analysis on the efficacy of adoptive immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma patients after curative therapy.
OBJECTIVE
The role of adoptive immunotherapy (AIT) for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have received curative therapy is still not well illustrated. This timely meta-analysis aims to update the current evidence on efficacy and safety of AIT for patients with HCC who have received curative therapy.


METHODS
We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus and the Cochrane Library Through January 2017 for relevant studies. Mortality and tumor recurrence were compared between patients with or without adjuvant AIT. The meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3.


RESULTS
Eight studies involving 1861 patients met the eligibility criteria and were meta-analyzed. Adjuvant AIT was associated with significantly lower mortality at 1 year (RR 0.64, 95%CI 0.52-0.79), 3 years (RR 0.73, 95%CI 0.65-0.81) and 5 years (RR 0.86, 95%CI 0.79-0.94). Similarly, adjuvant AIT was associated with significantly lower recurrence rate than curative therapies alone at 1 year (RR 0.64, 95%CI 0.49-0.82), 3 years (RR 0.85, 95%CI 0.79-0.91) and 5 years (RR 0.90, 95%CI 0.85-0.95). Short-term outcomes were confirmed in sensitivity analyses based on randomized trials or choice of random- or fixed-effect meta-analysis model. None of the included patients experienced grade 4 adverse events.


CONCLUSIONS
This timely meta-analysis confirms the evidence that adjuvant AIT for patients with HCC after curative treatment lowers risk of mortality and tumor recurrence.
Department of Chemotherapy, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.
Han-Yue
HY
Mo
Department of Nutrition, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.
Ying-Yang
YY
Liao
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.|Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Nanning, China.
Xue-Mei
XM
You
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Alessandro
A
Cucchetti
Department of General Surgery, Yan'An Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
Bao-Hong
BH
Yuan
Department of General Surgery, Yan'An Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
Ru-Hong
RH
Li
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.|Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Nanning, China.
Jian-Hong
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1494-6396
JH
Zhong
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.|Guangxi Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Engineering and Technology Research Center, Nanning, China.
Le-Qun
LQ
Li
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome