Adjuvant transarterial chemoembolization to sorafenib in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: An increasing number of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus sorafenib combination therapy has been applied for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, it remains controversial whether combination therapy is superior to sorafenib monotherapy. Therefore, we aimed to perform a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combination therapy of TACE plus sorafenib for unresectable HCC. METHODS: This meta-analysis was based on the relative outcomes from a specific search of online databases between January 2008 and November 2019, and subgroup analyses were conducted to identify potential predictive factors. RESULTS: A total of 3868 patients (TACE plus sorafenib vs sorafenib, 1181 vs 2687) were identified from nine studies, including one randomized controlled trial and eight retrospective cohort studies. The pooled results revealed that TACE plus sorafenib combination therapy significantly improves overall survival with the combined hazard ratio 0.74 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.66-0.84, P < 0.001), time to progression (hazard ratio = 0.73, 95%CI = 0.65-0.82, P < 0.001), and objective response rate (odds ratio = 2.19, 95% CI = 1.31-3.66, P = 0.003). Subgroup analysis indicated that patients who developed macrovascular invasion achieve significantly great overall survival (P for interaction = 0.001) with combination therapy, in contrast to nonmacrovascular invasion patients. In addition, no significant differences in adverse events were observed. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis demonstrated that TACE plus sorafenib combination therapy is superior to sorafenib monotherapy and should be recommended as an optimal treatment choice for unresectable HCC.

[Investigation of RHD 1227A allele in five pedigrees in Zhejiang Han population].

OBJECTIVE: To analysis the genetic mode of Rh DEL phenotype and RHD 1227A allele in Zhejiang Han population through family investigations. METHODS: Rh DEL phenotypes were identified by a serologic adsorption-elution method. Two polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific prime (PCR-SSP) methods which detectED RHD 1227A allele and Rhesus hybrid box, respectively, and a nucleotide sequencing method focused on the exon 9 of RHD 1227A allele were employed to determine the zygosity of RHD allele. RESULTS: All five probands with Rh DEL phenotype harbored a RHD 1227A allele and had a RHD allele deletion, and they were RHD 1227A/RHd heterozygote. One of the parent members was found to contain a RHD 1227A allele and a normal RHD allele in pedigree 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Thus, they were RHD 1227A/RHD heterozygotes and presented normal D positive phenotype. The son of proband No 1. inherited the RHD 1227A allele and presented a normal D positive phenotype due to a RHD 1227A/RHD heterozygote; The offsprings of proband No. 2, No. 4, and No. 5 did not inherit RHD 1227A allele and presented a normal D positive phenotype. CONCLUSION: RHD 1227A allele is an important genetic marker of Rh DEL phenotype; RHD 1227A is recessive to normal RHD allele and dominant to RHd allele; RHD 1227A allele is an ancestral, but not a spontaneously mutated allele.

[Molecular basis of Rh DEL phenotype in Zhejiang Han population].

This study was purposed to investigate the molecular basis of Rh DEL phenotype. Rh DEL phenotypes were identified by a serologic adsorption-elution method, the nucleotide sequences of ten RHD exons and exon-intron boundary regions were evaluated by a RHD gene-specific PCR-SSP (PCR-SSP, polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primer) and sequencing. The results showed that out of 122 random Rh negative donors 35 Rh DEL phenotypes were identified through serologic method, including 6 RhCCdee (17.14%), 28 RhCcdee (80.00%), and 1RhCcdEe (2.86%). Sequence analysis indicated that all DEL phenotypes harbored a RHD 1227 G > A mutation in exon 9. D zygosity test revealed that 29 DEL phenotypes (28 RhCcdee and 1 RhCcdEe) had one RHD gene deleted, and 6 DEL phenotypes (6 RhCCdee) had homogenous RHD gene. It is concluded that RHD 1227A is an important genetic marker for Rh DEL phenotype in Zhejiang Han population.