Table 1.
Characteristics of published multiple treatment comparison (MTC) analysis in oncology
| Author, year | Condition | Period | Number of trials* | Number of interventions | Number of trials used in MTC | Median RCT sample size (IQR) | Minimum/maximum number of RCTs in arms (minimum/maximum patients in arms) | Interventions collapsed into class effects | Outcomes | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyrgiou et al,18 2006 | Ovarian cancer | 1971–2006 | 198 | 120 | 60 | 103 (53–234) | 2/11 (NA) | Yes | Overall survival | Combination of both first- and second-line treatments |
| Golfinopoulos et al,57 2007 | Colorectal cancer | 1967–2007 | 242 | 137 | 40 | 152 (81–283) | 1/9 (28/4566) | Yes | Overall survival, disease progression | Combination of first-, second-, and third-line treatments. Patient status improved by 6.2% per decade |
| Golfinopoulos et al,17 2009 | Cancers of unknown site | 1980–2009 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 73 (49–87) | 1/5 (17/170) | Yes | Overall survival | Eight trials of untreated patients, two trials unknown |
| Mauri et al,19 2008 | Advanced breast cancer | 1971–2007 | 370 | 22 | 172 | 141 (87–262) | 1/153 (NA) | Yes | Overall survival | Assessed interventions to classification of “older combinations” |
| Hawkins et al,58 2009 | Nonsmall cell lung cancer | 2000–2007 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 731 (651–1257) | 1/4 (104/1692) | No | Overall survival | Only second-line treatments |
| Griffin et al,59 2006 | Ovarian cancer | 2004 alone | 3 | 3 | 3 | NA | 2/2 (NA) | No | Overall survival, progression-free survival |
Abbreviations: IQR, interquartile range; NA, not applicable; RCT, randomized controlled trial.