Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Quality assessment of clinical research on liver cancer treated by intra-arterial infusion of Chinese medicine

  • Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine
  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To assess the methodological quality of clinical research on Chinese medicine (CM) applied by intra-arterial infusion in treating primary liver cancer (PLC).

Methods

Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), PubMed, and three Chinese databases, including Chinese BioMedical Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and China Academic Journal (VIP) were searched. Chinese articles were also searched manually in 16 journals. Two reviewers independently selected studies, the quality of literatures were assessed according to the Cochrane Collaboration method of quality assessment.

Results

A total of 14 articles met the inclusion criteria for this review. Only three of these articles described the randomization method used. None of the studies was blinded. All of the articles didn’t report the calculation of the sample size. Only six studies mentioned adverse reactions. All of the studies were of grade C according to the Cochrane Collaboration method. Six studies reported results of survival, and only two of these reported better efficacy in the treatment groups.

Conclusions

The quality of studies concerned intra-arterial infusion of CM in treating with PLC was poor and the exact effect of these medicines still need evaluation. Well designed RCTs with large sample sizes, adequate follow-up data and reliable methods of assessment are needed to better appraise the real effect of CMs in the treatment of PLC patients.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Tang ZY, Ye SL, Liu YK, Qin LX, Sun HC, Ye QH, et al. A decade studies on metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2004;130:187–196.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Camma C, Schepis F, Orlando A, Albanese M, Shahied L, Trevisani F, et al. Transarterial chemoembolization for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Radiology 2002;224:47–54.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Llovet JM, Bruix J. Systematic review of randomized trials for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: chemoembolization improves survival. Hepatology 2003;37:429–442.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Llovet JM, Real MI, Montana X, Planas R, Coll S, Aponte J, et al. Arterial embolisation or chemoembolisation versus symptomatic treatment in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a randomized controlled trial. Lancet 2002;359:1734–1739.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Lo CM, Ngan H, Tso WK, Liu CL, Lam CM, Poon RT, et al. Randomized controlled trial of transarterial lipiodol chemoembolization for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology 2002;35:1164–117.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Llovet JM, Bruix J. Unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: meta-analysis of arterial embolization. Radiology 2004;230:300–301.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Bruix J, Sala M, Llovet JM. Chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma. Gastroenterology 2004;127:S179–S188.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Dong BR, Xiao M. The study of prevention disease with regard to the control problems. Chin J Intern Med (Chin) 1999;38:799–801.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. World Health Organization. General guidelines for methodologies on research and evaluation of traditional medicine. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2000. (document reference WHO/EDM/TRM/2000.1).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Higgins JPT, Green S. Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions 4.2.5. http://www.cochrane.org/resources/handbook/hbook.htm.

  11. Wu TX, Li YP, Bian ZX, Li TQ, Li J, Dagenais S, et al. Consolidated standards for reporting trials of traditional Chinese medicine (CONSORT for TCM). Chin J Evid-Based Med 2007;7:625–630.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Zhang XP, Yi YH, Jin P, Xie ZG. Clinical effects of the suspensions of supermicro-bletilla striata powder used as embolization agents on primary hepatic cancer. Pract J Med Pharm (Chin) 2006;23:288–289.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Wang TC, Jiang M, Cui F. Clinical effects of the suspensions of Ai di injection used as embolization agents on late primary hepatic cancer. Shangdong Med J (Chin) 2009;49(20):103–104.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Wang ZF. Clinical effects of the suspensions of Compound Kushen Injection used as embolization agents on late primary hepatic cancer. Shangdong Med J (Chin) 2009;49(8):102.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Song J, Xu H, Tang JQ, Li X, Zhou S. Transcatheter hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy combined with element emulsion for treatment of primary hepatic carcinoma. China Pharm (Chin) 2007;16(16):23–24.

    Google Scholar 

  16. You SY, Fan H, Huan ZG, Yang J, Su XH, Zhang B. Clinical study on the treatment of intermediate and advanced stage liver cancer with combination of arterial perfusion of cinobufotalin and embolotherapy. Hebei Med (Chin) 2006;12:1096–1100.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Wang CJ, Chen QQ, Deng L, Lu QH, Liang J. Hepatic artery infusion of Cinobufotain for treating advance hepatocellular carcinoma. Chin J Integr Tradit West Med Liver Dis (Chin) 2001;11(1):5–7.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Feng YZ, Zhao WH, Ma ZM, Zhou XR, Wang M, Sheng JM. Transcatheter hepatic artery infusion with Colxcis Semen Yokulnin in treatment of advanced HCC. China J Cancer Prev Treat (Chin) 2001;8:310–311.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Fan WJ, Zhang FJ, Shen JL, Hu W, Huang JH, Wu PH. 82 cases of hepatic artery infusion of Lanxiangxi Injection for treating advance hepatocellular carcinoma. Clin Med China (Chin) 2001;17:310–311.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Song AY, Tan H, Bi JF. Clinical study on the treatment of intermediate and advanced stage liver cancer with combination of arterial perfusion of brucine in and embolotherapy. Acta Chin Med Pharm (Chin) 2007;35(5):28–29.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Lou YC, Zhang H, Song JP. Influence of artesunate on the immune function of patients with primary liver cancer. Modern J Integr Tradit Chin West Med (Chin) 2009;12:1327–1329.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Cui SZ, Wu YB, Wang JK, Tang YQ, Tang RJ, Wang B, et al. Continuous regional chemotherapy using arsenic trioxide for primary hepatic carcinoma. J Modern Clin Med Bioengin 2006;12:433–434.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Zhang HB, Zhou RY. Clinical observation of Spica prunellae and Kangyan I Injections in treating late primary liver cancer by liver arterial perfusion. Shanghai J Trandit Chin Med (Chin) 2000;10(5):18–20.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Lu QH, Deng L. Clinical study on the treatment of intermediate and advanced stage liver cancer with combination of arterial perfusion of Xiaoaiping Injection in and embolotherapy. Modern J Integr Tradit Chin West Med (Chin) 2004;13:2690–2691.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Wu JY. An analysis of hepatic carcinoma patients accepting with combination of arterial perfusion of cinobufotalin and embolotherapy via drug box implantation system. Modern J Integr Tradit Chin West Med (Chin) 2006;15:1313–1314.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Eisenhauer EA, Therasse P, Bogaerts J, Schwartz LH, Sargent D, Ford R, et al. New response evaluation criteria in solid tumours: revised RECIST guideline (version 1.1). European Journal of Cancer 2009;45:228–247.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changhai Hospital, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China

    Xiao-feng Zhai  (翟笑枫), Qun Liu  (刘 群), Zhe Chen  (陈 喆) & Chang-quan Ling  (凌昌全)

  2. Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China

    Cui-xia Qiao  (乔翠霞)

Authors
  1. Xiao-feng Zhai  (翟笑枫)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Cui-xia Qiao  (乔翠霞)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Qun Liu  (刘 群)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Zhe Chen  (陈 喆)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Chang-quan Ling  (凌昌全)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chang-quan Ling  (凌昌全).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zhai, Xf., Qiao, Cx., Liu, Q. et al. Quality assessment of clinical research on liver cancer treated by intra-arterial infusion of Chinese medicine. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 20, 870–875 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-013-1555-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-013-1555-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation