Addition of Bevacizumab to Chemotherapy in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
2011

Bevacizumab with Chemotherapy for Lung Cancer

Sample size: 2252 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Lima André Bacellar Costa, Macedo Ligia T., Sasse André Deeke

Primary Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP)

Hypothesis

Does the addition of bevacizumab to chemotherapy improve outcomes in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer?

Conclusion

Adding bevacizumab to chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer prolongs overall survival, progression-free survival, and response rates, but comes with increased risks of toxicity.

Supporting Evidence

  • The addition of bevacizumab resulted in a significant longer overall survival compared to chemotherapy alone.
  • Patients receiving bevacizumab had a longer progression-free survival.
  • The overall response rate was higher in patients treated with bevacizumab plus chemotherapy.

Takeaway

This study found that giving a medicine called bevacizumab along with chemotherapy helps people with a type of lung cancer live a little longer, but it can also cause more side effects.

Methodology

This systematic review included randomized clinical trials comparing chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, analyzing overall survival, progression-free survival, response rates, and toxicities.

Potential Biases

There may be risks of bias due to the exclusion of certain trials and the reliance on published data.

Limitations

The study is limited by the quality and quantity of available data and potential publication bias.

Participant Demographics

The study included patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, primarily non-squamous histology.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p=0.04 for overall survival, p<0.00001 for progression-free survival, p<0.00001 for response rates

Confidence Interval

95% CI 0.79 to 0.99 for overall survival, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.82 for progression-free survival, 95% CI 1.89 to 2.89 for response rates

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0022681

Want to read the original?

Access the complete publication on the publisher's website

View Original Publication