Reviewer ’s report  
Title: Transarterial chemoembolization plus sorafenib for  the management of unresectable 
hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta -analysis  
 
Version: 0 Date: 26 Nov 2017  
 
Reviewer: Joong -Won Park  
 
Reviewer's report:  
Manuscript Number: BMGE -D-17-00424  
Title: Transarterial Chemoembolization plus Sorafenib for the Management of Unresectable 
Hepatocellular Carcinoma: a Systematic Review and Meta -analysi s 
 
Authors conducted this meta -analysis study for clarifying the efficacy of combination therapy of 
TACE and sorafenib in patients witih unresectable HCC because the outcome of HCC patients 
who received combination therapy remains disputable.  
 
Major comme nts 
1. In this study, it would be a more accurate to analyze the combination therapy and subsequent 
sorafenib treatment after TACE (usually TACE refractory or failure) separately. Authors 
have to try to distinguish between these two treatment -settings.  
2. In this study, there are three first authors and two corresponding authors; however, the 
description of the authors is unclear, especially the role of the first authors is ambiguous.  
 
Minor comments  
1. In table 1. Reference 13 publication year is wrong; 2013 is right.  
2. Authors should describe the inclusion and exclusion criteria and definitions in sentence 
format.  
 
 
 
Are the methods appropriate and well desc ribed?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
No 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
Unable to assess  
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 manus cript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an a dditional statistical review is recommended, please speci fy what a spects 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:  
Needs some language corrections before being published  
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
1. Have you in the past five years rece ived reimbursements, fees, 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 that 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 received 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 com peting 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 inerests' below.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for 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 as 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: Transarterial chemoembolization plus sorafenib for  the management of unresectable 
hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta -analysis  
 
Version: 0 Date: 26 Nov 2017  
 
Reviewer: Joong -Won Park  
 
Reviewer's report:  
Manuscript Number: BMGE -D-17-00424  
Title: Transarterial Chemoembolization plus Sorafenib for the Management of Unresectable 
Hepatocellular Carcinoma: a Systematic Review and Meta -analysi s 
 
Authors conducted this meta -analysis study for clarifying the efficacy of combination therapy of 
TACE and sorafenib in patients witih unresectable HCC because the outcome of HCC patients 
who received combination therapy remains disputable.  
 
Major comme nts 
1. In this study, it would be a more accurate to analyze the combination therapy and subsequent 
sorafenib treatment after TACE (usually TACE refractory or failure) separately. Authors 
have to try to distinguish between these two treatment -settings.  
2. In this study, there are three first authors and two corresponding authors; however, the 
description of the authors is unclear, especially the role of the first authors is ambiguous.  
 
Minor comments  
1. In table 1. Reference 13 publication year is wrong; 2013 is right.  
2. Authors should describe the inclusion and exclusion criteria and definitions in sentence 
format.  
 
 
 
Are the methods appropriate and well desc ribed?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
No 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
Unable to assess  
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 manus cript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an a dditional statistical review is recommended, please speci fy what a spects 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:  
Needs some language corrections before being published  
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
1. Have you in the past five years rece ived reimbursements, fees, 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 that 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 received 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 com peting 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 inerests' below.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for 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 as 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: Transarterial chemoembolization plus sorafenib for  the management of unresectable 
hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta -analysis  
 
Version: 0 Date: 26 Nov 2017  
 
Reviewer: Joong -Won Park  
 
Reviewer's report:  
Manuscript Number: BMGE -D-17-00424  
Title: Transarterial Chemoembolization plus Sorafenib for the Management of Unresectable 
Hepatocellular Carcinoma: a Systematic Review and Meta -analysi s 
 
Authors conducted this meta -analysis study for clarifying the efficacy of combination therapy of 
TACE and sorafenib in patients witih unresectable HCC because the outcome of HCC patients 
who received combination therapy remains disputable.  
 
Major comme nts 
1. In this study, it would be a more accurate to analyze the combination therapy and subsequent 
sorafenib treatment after TACE (usually TACE refractory or failure) separately. Authors 
have to try to distinguish between these two treatment -settings.  
2. In this study, there are three first authors and two corresponding authors; however, the 
description of the authors is unclear, especially the role of the first authors is ambiguous.  
 
Minor comments  
1. In table 1. Reference 13 publication year is wrong; 2013 is right.  
2. Authors should describe the inclusion and exclusion criteria and definitions in sentence 
format.  
 
 
 
Are the methods appropriate and well desc ribed?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
No 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
Unable to assess  
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 manus cript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an a dditional statistical review is recommended, please speci fy what a spects 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:  
Needs some language corrections before being published  
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
1. Have you in the past five years rece ived reimbursements, fees, 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 that 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 received 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 com peting 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 inerests' below.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for 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 as confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer  review policy of the journal  
assistant