Targeted oncology
-
In patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the benefit-to-risk ratio of doublet-targeted agents versus single agent is not clear. A systematic review and quantitative meta-analysis were, therefore, undertaken to evaluate the available evidence from randomized trials. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of erlotinib versus doublets (erlotinib plus another targeted agent) in advanced NSCLC and, if adequate data are available, to investigate whether or not predefined patient groups benefit more or less from doublet-targeted therapy based on erlotinib. ⋯ The benefit-to-risk ratio of doublets in advanced NSCLC may be more favorable than that of single-agent. The results of this systematic review suggest that patients with advanced NSCLC might benefit from doublet-targeted therapy based on erlotinib compared to erlotinib alone. However, an individual patient data systematic review and meta-analysis are needed to give us a more reliable assessment of the size of benefits and to explore whether doublet therapy may be more or less effective for particular types of patients.