Table 1. Characteristics of included studies.

Study	AVOREN (Escudier et al, 2008; Bracarda et al, 2007; Melichar et al, 2007; Escudier et al, 2007; Bajetta et al, 2008)	CALGB (Rini et al, 2008)	Motzer et al, 2006(Motzer et al, 2007b; Motzer et al, 2007c; Figlin et al, 2008; Motzer et al, 2007a; Motzer et al, 2006)
Design	R, DB, PC, phase III, international, multi-centre	R, phase III, international, multi-centre	R, DB, PC, phase III international, multi-centre
N	649	732	750
Diagnosis	Metastatic, clear cell RCC	Metastatic, clear cell RCC	Metastatic, clear cell RCC
Prognosis profile according to MSKCC criteria	27 : 56 : 9 (unavailable for 9% of patients)	26 : 64 : 10	38 : 56 : 6
(favourable: intermediate: poor)(%)
Patients having undergone previous nephrectomy (%)	100	85	90
Intervention and comparator	Bevacizumab plus IFN vs placebo plus IFN	bevacizumab plus IFN vs IFN	sunitinib vs IFN
Outcomes measured	Overall survival*, progression-free survival, overall response rate and safety	Overall survival*, progression-free survival, objective response rate and safety	Progression-free survival*, objective response rate, overall survival, patient reported outcomes and safety

Abbreviations: R= randomised; DB=double blind; PC=placebo controlled; RCC=renal cell carcinoma; IFN=interferon-α. ^*Primary outcome measure.