Single-agent chemotherapy versus combination chemotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a quality and meta-analysis study.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the quality of the studies and to compare single-agent with combination chemotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.


METHODS
Identification of published randomized trials and extraction of essential results directly from the published reports.


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.
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Milano, S. Paolo Hospital, Italy.
P
P
Marino
A
A
Preatoni
A
A
Cantoni
G
G
Buccheri
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000592:standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents