title: The efficacy of levetiracetam for patients with supratentorial brain tumors.
abstract: We conducted a meta-analysis to comprehensively evaluate the current data on the overall efficacy of levetiracetam (LEV), a new generation antiepileptic drug, in patients with brain tumors. The efficacy of LEV in patients diagnosed with brain tumors has been evaluated in several studies, however, with inconsistent results. Bibliographic searches of the EMBASE, MEDLINE, ClinicalTrials.gov and Cochrane Central Register of the Controlled Trials databases were performed to identify articles and conference abstracts that investigated the efficacy of LEV in the treatment of brain tumor patients. Fourteen studies were included in this meta-analysis. Among the 14 included studies, two were randomized controlled trials. The subgroup analysis demonstrated that the complete response rate of LEV was 94% during the postoperative period and 84% during the long-term follow-up period. Our results suggest that LEV is a relatively effective drug for the treatment of brain tumor patients and its efficacy is slightly lower during the long-term follow-up period than during the postoperative period. Further randomized controlled trials are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37 Waiguoxuexiang, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37 Waiguoxuexiang, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Zhou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Peizhi
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Gou
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maling
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Lang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Mao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yunhe
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37 Waiguoxuexiang, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Wang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37 Waiguoxuexiang, Chengdu 610041, China. Electronic address: qingmao2000@163.com.
authors.forename: Mao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qing
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37 Waiguoxuexiang, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Liu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yanhui
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37 Waiguoxuexiang, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ruofei
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37 Waiguoxuexiang, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Luo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiewen
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D015173:Supratentorial Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam
keywords: Efficacy; Levetiracetam; Meta-analysis; Supratentorial brain tumors