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Meta-Analysis
. 2018 Nov;19(11):829-843.
doi: 10.1631/jzus.B1700516.

Radiofrequency ablation versus hepatic resection for breast cancer liver metastasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Yi-Bin Xiao  1 , Bo Zhang  1 , Yu-Lian Wu  1
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Radiofrequency ablation versus hepatic resection for breast cancer liver metastasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Yi-Bin Xiao et al. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B. 2018 Nov.

Retraction in

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the comparative therapeutic efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and hepatic resection (HR) for breast cancer liver metastases (BCLMs).

Methods: Studies that had examined the outcomes for both RFA and HR for BCLM were identified by searching the electronic databases PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library. Pooled analyzes of the overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and short-term outcomes of BCLM were performed.

Results: Patients with BCLM gained many more survival benefits from HR than from RFA with regard to the 3-year OS rate (combined odds ratio (OR) 0.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.29-0.59, P<0.001), 5-year OS rate (combined OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.32-0.46, P<0.001), 3-year DFS (combined OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.27-0.49, P<0.001), and 5-year DFS (combined OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.40-0.66, P<0.001). RFA had fewer postoperative complications (combined OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.20-0.44, P<0.001) and shorter hospital stays (combined OR -9.01, 95% CI -13.49-4.54, P<0.001) than HR.

Conclusions: HR takes precedence over RFA in the treatment of patients with BCLM, considering the better survival rate. RFA gives rise to fewer complications and can be carried out with a shorter hospital stay, compared to HR. RFA should be reserved for patients who are not optimum candidates for resection.

Keywords: Breast cancer liver metastasis; Radiofrequency ablation; Hepatic resection; Prognosis; Meta-analysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Compliance with ethics guidelines: Yi-bin XIAO, Bo ZHANG, and Yu-lian WU declare that they have no conflict of interest.

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow chart of included studies
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Meta-analyses of the associations of HR and RFA with 3-year (a) and 5-year (b) OS Results are presented as individual and pooled OR and 95% CI
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Meta-analyses of the associations of HR and RFA with 3-year (a) and 5-year (b) DFS Results are presented as individual and pooled OR and 95% CI
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Meta-analysis of the association of HR and RFA with the incidence of postoperative complications Results are presented as individual and pooled OR and 95% CI
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Meta-analysis of the association of HR and RFA with hospital stay Results are presented as individual and pooled weighed mean difference (WMD) and 95% CI
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Subgroup analyses of the associations of HR and RFA with 3-year (a) and 5-year (b) OS in regard to tumor number Results are presented as individual and pooled OR and 95% CI
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Funnel plot for the evaluation of potential publication bias in regard to 3-year (a) and 5-year (b) overall survival, 3-year (c) and 5-year (d) disease-free survival, postoperative complications (e), and hospital stay (f) Each point represents a separate study for the indicated association. SE, standard error; OR, odds ratio; MD, mean difference; log[OR], natural logarithm of OR
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