Postoperative adjuvant adoptive immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma:A Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of adoptive immunotherapy(AIT) for patients with HCC postoperatively.METHODS: Sources such as MEDLINE,EMBASE,Cochrane Library database were searched.All randomized trials comparing hepatic resection or radiofrequency ablation alone with surgery plus AIT for HCC were identified.RESULTS: Four randomized controlled trials involving 423 patients were included.For the 1-year tumor recurrence rate,surgery plus AIT showed statistically significant less incidence of recurrence,with a pooled risk ratio(RR) of 0.51(95%CI=0.36-0.71,P=0.000 1).For 3-year tumor recurrence rate,the trials did not revealed statistically significant less incidence,with pooled risk ratio of 0.76(95%CI=0.56-1.02,P=0.07).For 1-year and 3-year mortality,AIT did not demonstrate statistically significant less incidence(RR=0.70,95%CI=0.31-1.61,P=0.41;RR=0.76,95%CI=0.38-1.49,P=0.42).Chilling/fever,headache,dizziness,nausea and tachycardia were reported as side-effects of AIT but were well tolerated by most patients.No infection,hepatic functional deterioration,autoimmune disorder or death case related to treatment were reported.CONCLUSION: Adjuvant AIT seems promising for patients with HCC after hepatic resection or radiofrequency ablation,but further trial is requires.