STUDY OBJECTIVE: To estimate the quality of the studies and to compare single-agent with combination chemotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer. DESIGN: Identification of published randomized trials and extraction of essential results directly from the published reports. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Survival probability at 1 year, as estimated from the published survival curves, has been considered as the end-point of interest. Quality scoring of the studies has also been performed. Arithmetical calculation, concerning the estimation of quantities necessary for the meta-analysis of the literature, has been addressed. The estimated pooled Odds Ratio of death was 0.8, with 95% confidence interval of 0.6-1.0, thus favoring combination chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our meta-analysis favor combination chemotherapy. They must, however, be considered in the light of their clinical relevance and of the balance between quality of life, toxicity and costs of chemotherapy.
STUDY OBJECTIVE: To estimate the quality of the studies and to compare single-agent with combination chemotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer. DESIGN: Identification of published randomized trials and extraction of essential results directly from the published reports. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Survival probability at 1 year, as estimated from the published survival curves, has been considered as the end-point of interest. Quality scoring of the studies has also been performed. Arithmetical calculation, concerning the estimation of quantities necessary for the meta-analysis of the literature, has been addressed. The estimated pooled Odds Ratio of death was 0.8, with 95% confidence interval of 0.6-1.0, thus favoring combination chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our meta-analysis favor combination chemotherapy. They must, however, be considered in the light of their clinical relevance and of the balance between quality of life, toxicity and costs of chemotherapy.
Authors: J P Sculier; L Ghisdal; T Berghmans; F Branle; J J Lafitte; F Vallot; A P Meert; F Lemaitre; E Steels; A Burniat; C Mascaux Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 2001-05-04 Impact factor: 7.640