Table 3.
Correlation of QoL results with OS and PFS outcomes, based on drug class
| Quality of life in the experimental arm | Total | p | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superior | No difference | Inferior | |||
| Overall survival (immunotherapy) | |||||
| Improved | 8 (66.7%) | 4 (33.3%) | – | 12 (100%) | 0.604 |
| Non-improved | 1 (50.0%) | 1 (50.0%) | – | 2 (100%) | |
| Non-available data | 1 (50.0%) | 1 (50.0%) | – | 2 (100%) | |
| Overall survival (target therapy) | |||||
| Improved | 3 (30.0%) | 6 (60.0%) | 1 (10.0%) | 10 (100%) | > 0.99 |
| Non-improved | 12 (34.2%) | 22 (62.9%) | 1 (2.9%) | 35 (100%) | |
| Non-available data | 1 (100%) | 2 | – | 3 (100%) | |
| Overall survival (chemotherapy) | |||||
| Improved | 2 (25.0%) | 6 (75.0%) | – | 8 (100%) | > 0.99 |
| Non-improved | 2 (28.6%) | 4 (57.1%) | 1 (14.3%) | 7 (100%) | |
| Non-available data | – | – | – | – | |
| Overall survival (EGFR + ALK inhibitors)a | |||||
| Improved | 3 (37.5%) | 4 (50.0%) | 1 (12.5%) | 8 (100%) | 0.691 |
| Non-improved | 11 (47.8%) | 12 (52.2%) | – | 23 (100%) | |
| Non-available data | 1 (100%) | – | – | 1 (100%) | |
| Progression-free survival (immunotherapy) | |||||
| Improved | 8 (66.7%) | 4 (33.3%) | – | 12 (100%) | 0.604 |
| Non-improved | 2 (50.0%) | 2 (50.0%) | – | 4 (100%) | |
| Non-available data | – | – | – | – | |
| Progression-free survival (target therapy) | |||||
| Improved | 16 (42.1%) | 20 (52.6%) | 2 (5.3%) | 38 (100%) | 0.0196 |
| Non-improved | – | 10 (100%) | – | 10 (100%) | |
| Non-available data | – | – | – | – | |
| Progression-free survival (chemotherapy) | |||||
| Improved | 2 (22.2%) | 7 (77.8%) | – | 9 (100%) | > 0.99 |
| Non-improved | 2 (40.0%) | 2 (40.0%) | 1 (20.0%) | 5 (100%) | |
| Non-available data | – | 1 (100%) | – | 1 (100%) | |
| Progression-free survival (EGFR + ALK inhibitors)a | |||||
| Improved | 15 (60.0%) | 9 (36.0%) | 1 (4.0%) | 25 (100%) | 0.0077 |
| Non-improved | – | 7 (100%) | – | 7 (100%) | |
| Non-available data | – | – | – | – | |
We excluded from this analysis 2 trials including a combination of chemotherapy plus bevacizumab in the experimental arm versus chemotherapy (different from the one used in the experimental arm) alone. Fisher’s exact test was used for statistical analysis
aAmong the 32 trials testing EGFR or ALK inhibitors, in 13 cases, target therapy alone was compared to chemotherapy; in 8 cases, target therapy was compared to target therapy; in 7 cases, target therapy plus chemotherapy was compared to chemotherapy alone; in 4 cases, target therapy was compared to best supportive care