Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Comparison of overall survi val on surgical resection versus transarterial 
chemoembolization with or without radiofrequency ablation in intermediate st age hepatocellular 
carcin oma: A propensity score matching analysis  
 
Version: 0 Date: 28 Feb 2020  
 
Reviewer: Giovanni B Levi Sandri  
 
Revi ewer's report:  
 
Dear Editor, thank you for considering me as a reviewer for your Journal. I read the manuscript 
entitled "Comparison of overall surviv al on surgical resection versus transarterial 
chemoembolization with or without radiofrequency ablation in intermediate stage hepatocellular 
carcinoma: A propensity score matching analysis". Authors analyze a retrospective cohort of 
BCLC Stage B HCC patien ts according to the type of treatment: Surgical, TACE, or TACE + 
RFA.  
 
As a surgeon I really appreciate the results and the conclusions, surgical resection may achieved 
better overall survival.  
 
In the discussion, authors need to discuss the role of BCLC staging according with the study 
result. What authors think about it. The role of surgery must be more present in the staging 
system.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please spe cify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or w ould you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please speci fy what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1.  Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, f ees, funding, or salary 
from an organisation that may in any way gain or lose financial ly from the 
publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2.  Do you hold any stocks or shares  in an organisation t hat may in any way gain or 
lose financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the 
future?  
 
3.  Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents  relating to the content 
of the manuscript?  
 
4.  Have you recei ved reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization 
that holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5.  Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6.  Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have  no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
I agree to the open peer r eview policy of the journal. I understan d that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted f or publication, my named report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors'  
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included a s confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Comparison of overall survi val on surgical resection versus transarterial 
chemoembolization with or without radiofrequency ablation in intermediate st age hepatocellular 
carcin oma: A propensity score matching analysis  
 
Version: 0 Date: 28 Feb 2020  
 
Reviewer: Giovanni B Levi Sandri  
 
Revi ewer's report:  
 
Dear Editor, thank you for considering me as a reviewer for your Journal. I read the manuscript 
entitled "Comparison of overall surviv al on surgical resection versus transarterial 
chemoembolization with or without radiofrequency ablation in intermediate stage hepatocellular 
carcinoma: A propensity score matching analysis". Authors analyze a retrospective cohort of 
BCLC Stage B HCC patien ts according to the type of treatment: Surgical, TACE, or TACE + 
RFA.  
 
As a surgeon I really appreciate the results and the conclusions, surgical resection may achieved 
better overall survival.  
 
In the discussion, authors need to discuss the role of BCLC staging according with the study 
result. What authors think about it. The role of surgery must be more present in the staging 
system.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please spe cify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or w ould you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please speci fy what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1.  Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, f ees, funding, or salary 
from an organisation that may in any way gain or lose financial ly from the 
publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2.  Do you hold any stocks or shares  in an organisation t hat may in any way gain or 
lose financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the 
future?  
 
3.  Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents  relating to the content 
of the manuscript?  
 
4.  Have you recei ved reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization 
that holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5.  Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6.  Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have  no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
I agree to the open peer r eview policy of the journal. I understan d that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted f or publication, my named report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors'  
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included a s confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Comparison of overall survi val on surgical resection versus transarterial 
chemoembolization with or without radiofrequency ablation in intermediate st age hepatocellular 
carcin oma: A propensity score matching analysis  
 
Version: 0 Date: 28 Feb 2020  
 
Reviewer: Giovanni B Levi Sandri  
 
Revi ewer's report:  
 
Dear Editor, thank you for considering me as a reviewer for your Journal. I read the manuscript 
entitled "Comparison of overall surviv al on surgical resection versus transarterial 
chemoembolization with or without radiofrequency ablation in intermediate stage hepatocellular 
carcinoma: A propensity score matching analysis". Authors analyze a retrospective cohort of 
BCLC Stage B HCC patien ts according to the type of treatment: Surgical, TACE, or TACE + 
RFA.  
 
As a surgeon I really appreciate the results and the conclusions, surgical resection may achieved 
better overall survival.  
 
In the discussion, authors need to discuss the role of BCLC staging according with the study 
result. What authors think about it. The role of surgery must be more present in the staging 
system.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please spe cify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or w ould you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please speci fy what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1.  Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, f ees, funding, or salary 
from an organisation that may in any way gain or lose financial ly from the 
publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2.  Do you hold any stocks or shares  in an organisation t hat may in any way gain or 
lose financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the 
future?  
 
3.  Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents  relating to the content 
of the manuscript?  
 
4.  Have you recei ved reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization 
that holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5.  Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6.  Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have  no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
I agree to the open peer r eview policy of the journal. I understan d that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted f or publication, my named report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors'  
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included a s confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
assistant