2.3. Data extraction and outcomes

The available data from the available literatures was extracted by 2 investigators independently (Chen and Wang), with any controversy resolved by consensus of them. The necessary information extracted from the available literatures including: names of the trials, number of patients, gender, median age, ECOG performance status, race of the included patients, potential cause of the cancer, and Barcelona clinic liver cancer stage of the patients. The primary outcomes evaluated in the present study were PFS (randomization to progression of any causes or death regardless of any causes) and OS (randomization to death regardless of any causes). Secondary endpoints covered ORR (evaluated as complete response or partial response), DCR (including ORR status and stable disease), severe adverse events (SAEs), fatal adverse events (FAEs), treatment events (TEs, patients suffered dose reduction, death during the therapy or within 30 days of treatment discontinuation), and specified adverse events (increased ALT, fatigue, hypertension, and vomiting).