title: Antiangiogenic drugs used with chemotherapy for patients with recurrent ovarian cancer: a meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The value of antiangiogenic inhibitors for patients with recurrent ovarian cancer has not been completely affirmed. Therefore, we aimed to assess the effectiveness and toxicities of various antiangiogenic drugs for the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this meta-analysis, we searched PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases for complete randomized controlled trials. The searches were extended to May 15, 2016. The risk of bias of the included studies was evaluated via a Cochrane systematic evaluation, and the statistical analyses were performed using RevMan 5.2 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, we included 8 randomized controlled trials involving 3,211 patients and divided them into 3 groups, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibitors (VEGFRIs), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors (bevacizumab), and angiopoietin inhibitors (trebananib). The progression-free survival improved significantly in all the groups being given antiangiogenic drugs (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.55, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.45-0.67,I2=0%,P<0.00001 for the VEGFRI group; HR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.45-0.63,I2=51%,P<0.00001 for the VEGF inhibitor group; HR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.58-0.77,I2=0%,P<0.00001 for the trebananib group). Overall survival was obviously prolonged in the VEGFRI (HR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.59-0.97,I2=0%,P=0.03), the VEGF inhibitor (HR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.77-0.99,I2=0%,P=0.03), and trebananib groups (HR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.67-0.99,I2=0%,P=0.04). The incidence of grade 3/4 side effects was different among the 3 groups, for example, proteinuria, hypertension, gastrointestinal perforation, and arterial thromboembolism were presented in the VEGF inhibitor group. Increased incidences of fatigue, diarrhea, and hypertension were seen in the VEGFRI group, and the trebananib group had a higher incidence of hypokalemia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This meta-analysis showed that antiangiogenic drugs improved the progression-free survival. The VEGFRI, bevacizumab, and trebananib groups showed increased overall survival. Adding antiangiogenic drugs to chemotherapy treatment resulted in a higher incidence of grade 3/4 side effects, but these were manageable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: SuYi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: LongJia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kuang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: ZhiJuan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: ChengJun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
keywords: antiangiogenesis; overall survival; progression-free survival; recurrent ovarian cancer; toxicity