Review for 10.1186/s12876-018-0849-0 (2018)

Reviewer ’s report  
Title: Tran sarterial chemoembolization plus sorafenib for  the management of unresectable 
hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta -analysis  
 
Version: 0 Date: 26 Dec 2017  
 
Reviewer: Stephen H. Gray  
 
Reviewer's report:  
This meta -analysis of TACE plus Sorafenib in unresectable HCC documents improved TTP and 
DCR but no improvement in OS.  
 
1. What role do the authors feel that lead time bias plays in the lack of improved OS  seen in this 
analysis?  
2. What percent of TACE were DEBS versus conventional?  
3. Was there  any difference in survival based on type of TACE?  
4. Given the heterogeneity of HCC etiology were there the differences in outcome based on the 
etiology?  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well desc ribed?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
Yes 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify 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 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:  
Not suitable for publication unless extensively edited  
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 interests  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I underst and 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 b e 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