Letters To The Editor
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World J Clin Oncol. May 10, 2014; 5(2): 191-193
Published online May 10, 2014. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v5.i2.191
Meta-regression of treatments for metastatic colorectal cancer: Quantifying incremental benefit from 2000 to 2012
Andrea Messori, Margherita Conti, Valeria Fadda, Dario Maratea, Sabrina Trippoli
Andrea Messori, Margherita Conti, Valeria Fadda, Dario Maratea, Sabrina Trippoli, HTA Unit, ESTAV Toscana Centro, Regional Health Service, 50100 Firenze, Italy
Author contributions: Fadda V and Maratea D conducted the analyses; Messori A and Trippoli S designed the study and wrote the letter; Conti M carried out the literature search.
Correspondence to: Dr. Andrea Messori, HTA Unit, ESTAV Toscana Centro, Regional Health Service, Via San Salvi 12, 50100 Firenze, Italy. andrea.messori.it@gmail.com
Telephone: +39-33-89513583 Fax: +39-57-4701319
Received: November 2, 2013
Revised: December 3, 2013
Accepted: January 17, 2014
Published online: May 10, 2014
Processing time: 190 Days and 19.8 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: We conducted out a meta-regression in which randomized studies from 2000 to 2012 were evaluated and the temporal trend was analyzed [end points: overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS)]. Our literature search identified all trials employing a fluoropyrimidine regimen. Covariates included temporal trend, arm allocation and Kirsten rat sarcoma status. According to meta-regression of 130 treatment arms, the improvement between 2002 and 2012 was from 14.9 to 18.8 mo for OS (P < 0.001) and from 5.7 to 8.1 mo for PFS (P < 0.001). Our study indicates that OS and PFS have improved from 2000 to 2012 but the extent of this improvement is small.