Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
Advances in assessment systems and non-pharmacological intervention strategies for cancer-related fatigue following transarterial chemoembolization in hepatocellular carcinoma: a narrative review
By Yang S, Yao X, Ren Y and 3 others.
Abstract
Purpose
Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a primary treatment for intermediate to advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a prevalent and distressing symptom following TACE that significantly impairs patients' recovery and health-related quality of life. This review aimed to systematically summarize the current evidence on CRF screening, assessment, and non-pharmacological interventions specifically tailored to the post-TACE HCC population, and to propose an integrated, nurse-led clinical management framework.
Methods
A narrative review was conducted by systematically searching PubMed, Web of Science, and CNKI for literature published up to April 2026. The search encompassed peer-reviewed original research articles (including randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, cross-sectional studies, and meta-analyses), clinical practice guidelines, and expert consensus reports. The level of evidence for each intervention category was evaluated using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (OCEBM) grading system. The literature search focused on CRF epidemiology, pathophysiology, validated assessment tools, non-pharmacological interventions (including exercise, psychosocial support, nutritional management, and traditional Chinese medicine therapies), and nursing management models in HCC patients following TACE.