A new meta-analysis shows the Albumin-Bilirubin (ALBI) score is crucial for predicting survival and liver function in hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with transhepatic arterial chemoembolization (TACE).

• Higher ALBI grades significantly correlate with shorter overall survival: 2nd vs. 1st grade (1.52 times higher risk); 3rd vs. 1st (2.67 times); and 3rd vs. 2nd (1.94 times).
• The risk of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) increases with higher ALBI scores (4.57 times higher risk for patients with worse scores).

Surgeons should consider the ALBI classification to refine patient selection for TACE and anticipate potential complications from repeated treatments.