Survival benefit of intraductal radiofrequency ablation for malignant biliary obstruction: A systematic review with meta-analysis

Background/Aims: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a rare but aggressive disease with a poor survival. Recent trials have shown improved survival with intraductal radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy. We performed a systematic review with meta-analysis to determine the survival benefit of endoscopic RFA for unresectable extrahepatic CCA with malignant biliary obstruction (MBO). Methods: A systematic search from 1970 to 2020 was performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials. gov. We selected eligible studies reporting relative risks, hazard ratios (HRs), or odds ratios, adjusted by controlling for confounding factors of survival rate and stent patency duration, among patients with extrahepatic CCA with MBO treated with RFA with stent insertion or stent insertion only. Results: A total of eight trials (three randomized and five nonrandomized) with a total of 420 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled overall survival analysis favored RFA treatment with stent insertion (HR, 0.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.34–0.64; I²=47%; p=0.09); however, no significant difference was found in the duration of stent patency between the groups (HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.57–1.09; I²=7%; p=0.36). Conclusions: RFA therap with stent insertion ma confer a survival benefit compared with stent insertion onl in patients with CCA and MBO.