title: Laparoscopic versus open surgery for rectal cancer: a meta-analysis of 3-year follow-up outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We wished to evaluate the effectiveness of laparoscopic and open surgery for patients with rectum cancer through a meta-analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane database until June 30, 2015, to identify eligible studies. Randomized controlled trials comparing laparoscopic with open surgery for rectum cancer were included. Meta-analysis was performed using the search strategy following the requirement of the Cochrane Library Handbook. Three-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were the main endpoints.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight randomized controlled trials comprising 3145 patients matched the selection criteria. Meta-analysis showed no significant difference between laparoscopic and open surgery in 3-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) (hazard ratio (HR)3-year OS = 0.83, 95 % CI [0.68-1.01]; P = 0.06; HR3-year DFS = 0.89, 95 % CI [0.75,1.05]; P = 0.16). No evidence of publication bias was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our meta-analysis supported the notion that based on the 3-year DFS and OS, oncological outcomes are comparable after laparoscopic and open surgery for rectal cancer.
authors: Department of General Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, People's Republic of China.
authors: Dachuan
authors: D
authors: Zhao
authors: Department of Oncology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, People's Republic of China.
authors: Yibin
authors: Y
authors: Li
authors: Department of Oncology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, People's Republic of China.
authors: Senming
authors: S
authors: Wang
authors: Department of General Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, People's Republic of China. drhuangzh@163.com.
authors: Zonghai
authors: Z
authors: Huang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017594:Publication Bias; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Laparoscopy; Meta-analysis; Open surgery; Rectum cancer; Survival rate