What has the meta-analysis contributed to today's standard of care in the treatment of thoracic malignancies?
Meta-analyses dealing with the treatment of thoracic malignancies (non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer and mesothelioma) are reviewed including those performed in the context of a systematic review of the literature or based on individual patients data. Their results have been used as an effective tool for resolving various clinical questions, providing more reliable evidence for some clinical practice: (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery for resectable NSCLC, radiochemotherapy for patients with unresectable limited NSCLC and limited SCLC, advantage of chemotherapy for advanced NSCLC and identification of the most active drugs. However, it is important to understand the limits of their methodology in order to avoid inappropriate interpretations.
Meert
Anne-Pascale
AP
Institut Jules Bordet, Service des Soins Intensifs & Oncologie Thoracique, Bruxelles, Belgium. ap.meert@bordet.be
Sculier
Jean-Paul
JP
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000592:standards*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000592:standards*; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000592:standards