Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36765884›Full record

ReviewCancers2023

The Role of Branched-Chain Amino Acid Supplementation in Combination with Locoregional Treatments for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Georgios A Sideris, Savvas Tsaramanidis, Aikaterini T Vyllioti, Njogu Njuguna

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Cancers, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
17citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

17 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

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  16. Current Therapeutic Targets in Cancer Cachexia: A Pathophysiologic Approach.American Society of Clinical Oncology educational book. American Society of Clinical Oncology. Annual Meeting · 2023
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Georgios A SiderisBaystate Medical Center, Department of Radiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Springfield, MA 01199, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-7927-3690
Savvas TsaramanidisRadiology Working Group, Society of Junior Doctors, 11527 Athens, Greece.ORCID 0000-0001-6408-5494
Aikaterini T VylliotiNestlé Clinical Research Unit, 1000 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Njogu NjugunaBaystate Medical Center, Department of Radiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Springfield, MA 01199, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBranched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation has been linked with favorable outcomes in patients undergoing surgical or palliative treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To date, there has been no systematic review investigating the value of BCAA supplementation in HCC patients undergoing locoregional therapies. MATERIALS AND

methodsA systematic search of the literature was performed across five databases/registries using a detailed search algorithm according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement. The search was conducted on March 23, 2022.

resultsSixteen studies with a total of 1594 patients were analyzed. Most patients were male (64.6%) with a mean age of 68.2 ± 4.1 years, Child-Pugh score A (67.9%) and stage II disease (40.0%). Locoregional therapy consisted of radiofrequency ablation, transarterial chemoembolization or hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy. BCAA supplementation was in the form of BCAA granules or BCAA-enriched nutrient. Most studies reported improved albumin levels, non-protein respiratory quotient and quality of life in the BCAA group. Results pertaining to other outcomes including overall survival, recurrence rate, and Child-Pugh score were variable. Meta-analysis showed significantly higher levels of post-treatment serum albumin in the BCAA group (SMD = 0.54, 95% CI 0.20-0.87) but no significant differences in mortality rate (RR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.65-1.02) and AST (SMD = -0.13, 95% CI: -0.43-0.18).

conclusionBCAA supplementation is associated with higher post-treatment albumin levels. There are currently not sufficient data to support additional benefits. Further studies are needed to elucidate their value.

Indexed as

amino acidscancercirrhosishepatocellular carcinomainterventional radiologyliver cancernutritionsupplements

Identifiers

PMID36765884
PMCPMC9913329

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.