Impact of combination chemotherapy on toxicity in ovarian cancer: Systematic revision of literature and meta-analysis

Abstract

The purpose of this statistical analysis is to demonstrate the real advantages in terms of cost-benefit of combination chemotherapy compared with single-agent chemotherapy. The trials, which are used in this meta-analysis, have been searched on PubMed database and they are phase II or randomized phase III studies with only chemotherapy regimens. In this meta-analysis were evaluated adverse effects with odds ratio (OR), which is expressed in 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Only 4 studies contained all the set selection criteria and they were selected. The data, which were obtained, were analyzed using MedCalc Application. The combination therapy was more strongly linked to certain adverse events than to chemotherapy with a single agent: thrombocytopenia, anemia, neutropenia and nausea. The data obtained for leukopenia, for vomiting and for stomatitis are not statistically significant, as well as those of antitumor activity. Obtained data allow us to state that the overall combination therapy is more closely related to adverse effects such as thrombocytopenia, anemia, neutropenia and nausea compared tosingle-agent chemotherapy.