Table 3.

General characteristics of the studies included in the review

Study	Objective	Type of study	No. patients	Outcomes
Macedo et al. (2012) [7]	To collect current data and evaluate the effect of bevacizumab on first-line therapy, focusing on each backbone regimen; subgroup analysis.	Systematic review	3060	PFS and OS
Hurwitz et al. (2013) [17]	To describe the results of the analysis of RCTs on bevacizumab in mCRC. The analysis pooled individual patient data from these studies, which allowed a more comprehensive examination of efficacy and safety of bevacizumab.	Systematic review	3763	PFS and OS
Saltz et al. (2008) [4]	To evaluate the efficacy and safety of bevacizumab when added to oxaliplatin in first-line therapy (capecitabin plus oxaliplatin [XELOX] or fluorouracil/folinic acid plus oxaliplatin [FOLFOX]) in mCRC patients.	RCT	1401	PFS and OS
Tournigand et al. (2004) [12]	To evaluate FOLFIRI and FOLFOX regimens to determine the best sequence (FOLFIRI or FOLFOX first) to treat mCRC patients.	RCT	220	PFS and OS
Van Cutsem et al. (2007) [18]	To compare panitumumab plus supportive care versus supportive care in mCRC patients who had progressed after standard chemotherapy.	RCT	463	PFS and OS

Abbreviations: XELOX Xeloda® and oxaliplatin, FOLFIRI 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin and irinotecan, FOLFOX 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin and oxaliplatin, RCT randomized, clinical trial, mCRC metastatic colorectal cancer, PFS progression free survival, OS overall survival