title: Chemotherapy plus best supportive care versus best supportive care in patients with non-small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of chemotherapy has been proposed to increase the effectiveness of best supportive care (BSC) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Previous trials reported inconsistent findings regarding the efficacy and safety of chemotherapy on overall survival (OS) and treatment-related mortality. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of chemotherapy plus BSC versus BSC alone on survival of patients with NSCLC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We systematically searched PubMed, EmBase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for relevant literature. All eligible studies included patients with NSCLC who had received chemotherapy and BSC or BSC alone. All eligible studies measured at least 1 of the following outcomes: OS or treatment-related mortality. Overall, patients that received chemotherapy plus BSC had significant longer OS than those that received BSC alone (HR, 0.76; 95%CI, 0.69-0.84; P<0.001). Additionally, chemotherapy plus BSC as compared to BSC alone resulted in a 28% RR reduction (95%CI: 12-40; P = 0.001) in 6-month mortality, 11% RR reduction (95%CI: 8-15; P<0.001) in 12-month mortality, and 5% RR reduction (95%CI: 1-8; P = 0.02) in 2-year mortality. Toxicity was greater in patients that received chemotherapy plus BSC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chemotherapy plus BSC increased the OS and reduced the 6-month, 12-month, and 2-year mortality of NSCLC patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Chenxi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Hongcheng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Liyan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yao
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
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