PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety of patients with extensive small-cell lung cancer treated withirinotecan/cisplatin (IP) versus etoposide/cisplatin (EP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a metaanalysis of a randomized controlled trial. The main outcome measures for safety were grade 3/4 leukopenia, grade 3 anemia, grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia, grade 3/4 neutropenia, grade 3 vomiting/nausea, grade 3/4 diarrhea, and infection. RESULTS: Three randomized controlled trials totaling 535 patients were included. Metaanalysis results are as follows: fewer patients receiving IP experienced grade 3/4 leukopenia (response rate [RR], 0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.29-0.67), grade 3 anemia (RR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.43-0.99), and grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia (RR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.12-0.42), compared with patients receiving EP. But more patients experienced grade 3 vomiting or nausea (RR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.37-3.37) and grade 3/4 diarrhea (RR, 21.66; 95% CI, 4.87-96.2). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups with regard to infection (RR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.54-1.04). CONCLUSION: Current clinical studies might confirm that fewer patients receiving IP experienced grade 3/4 leukopenia, grade 3 anemia, grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia, and grade 3/4 neutropenia, compared with patients receiving EP, but more experienced grade 3 vomiting/nausea and grade 3/4 diarrhea. There was no significant difference between the group receiving IP and the group receiving EP with regard to infection. Although there is convincing evidence to confirm the results mentioned herein, they still need to be confirmed by large-sample, multicenter, randomized, controlled trials.
RCT Entities:
PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety of patients with extensive small-cell lung cancer treated with irinotecan/cisplatin (IP) versus etoposide/cisplatin (EP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a metaanalysis of a randomized controlled trial. The main outcome measures for safety were grade 3/4 leukopenia, grade 3 anemia, grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia, grade 3/4 neutropenia, grade 3 vomiting/nausea, grade 3/4 diarrhea, and infection. RESULTS: Three randomized controlled trials totaling 535 patients were included. Metaanalysis results are as follows: fewer patients receiving IP experienced grade 3/4 leukopenia (response rate [RR], 0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.29-0.67), grade 3 anemia (RR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.43-0.99), and grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia (RR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.12-0.42), compared with patients receiving EP. But more patients experienced grade 3 vomiting or nausea (RR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.37-3.37) and grade 3/4 diarrhea (RR, 21.66; 95% CI, 4.87-96.2). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups with regard to infection (RR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.54-1.04). CONCLUSION: Current clinical studies might confirm that fewer patients receiving IP experienced grade 3/4 leukopenia, grade 3 anemia, grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia, and grade 3/4 neutropenia, compared with patients receiving EP, but more experienced grade 3 vomiting/nausea and grade 3/4 diarrhea. There was no significant difference between the group receiving IP and the group receiving EP with regard to infection. Although there is convincing evidence to confirm the results mentioned herein, they still need to be confirmed by large-sample, multicenter, randomized, controlled trials.