Chemotherapy for Late-Stage Cancer Patients: Meta-Analysis of Complete Response Rates

摘要: Complete response (CR) rates reported for cytotoxic chemotherapy late-stage cancer patients are generally low, with few exceptions, regardless of the solid type or drug regimen. We investigated CR in literature clinical trials using alone, across a wide range tumour types and chemotherapeutic regimens, to determine an overall rate cancers. A total 141 reports were located PubMed database. meta-analysis was performed from 68 (total 2732 patients) standard agents cancers—a binomial model random effects adopted. Mean compared different types, mechanisms action, logistic regression. Our results showed that treatment low at 7.4%, regimen used. found no evidence differed between but amongst small differences evident, although none exceeded mean 11%. This remarkable concordance therapy remains currently unexplained, motivates further investigation.