Table 5.

Subgroup analyses of ORR and DCR between the experimental and control groups

Parameter	Factors at study level	Exp	Con	Analysis method	Heterogeneity		OR	95% CI	P-value
		Number of patients (n)	Number of patients (n)		I2 (%)	P-value
ORR	Therapeutic regimen
	Apatinib+FOLFOX	66	58	Fixed	0	0.66	2.63	1.24–5.56	0.01
	Apatinib+S-1+oxaliplatin	155	155	Fixed	0	0.91	2.42	1.46–4.01	0.0006
	Apatinib+FBC	60	60	Fixed	0	0.35	2.58	1.24–5.39	0.01
	Apatinib+S-1	197	196	Fixed	0	1.00	2.40	1.51–3.82	0.0002
	Dosage of apatinib
	850 mg/d	236	232	Fixed	0	1.00	2.29	1.53–3.43	<0.0001
	500 mg/d	215	230	Fixed	0	0.84	3.07	1.94–4.88	<0.00001
	Study sample size
	.50	496	503	Fixed	0	0.96	2.52	1.89–3.37	<0.00001
	<50	129	128	Fixed	0	0.97	2.75	1.57–4.79	0.0004
	Type of control trials
	RCT	450	445	Fixed	0	1.00	2.38	1.77–3.22	<0.00001
	Non-RCT	175	186	Fixed	0	0.68	3.16	1.92–5.20	<0.00001
DCR	Therapeutic regimen
	Apatinib+FOLFOX	66	58	Fixed	0	0.67	6.74	2.07–21.95	0.002
	Apatinib+S-1+oxaliplatin	155	155	Fixed	0	0.49	3.07	1.89–5.00	<0.00001
	Apatinib+FBC	60	60	Fixed	0	0.73	8.80	2.45–31.70	0.0009
	Apatinib+S-1	168	167	Fixed	0	0.63	2.78	1.51–5.10	0.0010
	Dosage of apatinib
	850 mg/d	207	203	Fixed	0	0.79	3.21	2.03–5.07	<0.00001
	500 mg/d	215	230	Fixed	0	0.43	3.32	2.02–5.48	<0.00001
	Study sample size
	>50	467	474	Fixed	0	0.61	3.43	2.45–4.79	<0.00001
	<50	129	128	Fixed	0	0.78	3.58	1.86–6.90	0.0001
	Type of control trials
	RCT	421	416	Fixed	0	0.89	2.88	1.98–4.18	<0.00001
	Non-RCT	175	186	Fixed	0	0.68	4.79	2.89–7.92	<0.00001

Notes: Con, control group (CT alone group); Exp, experimental group (apatinib targeted therapy plus CT).

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; CT, chemotherapy; DCR, disease control rate; FBC, fluorouracil-based chemotherapy; FOLFOX, oxaliplatin+calcium folinate+5-fluorouracil; OR, odds ratio; ORR, overall response rate; QIR, quality of life improved rate; RCT, randomized controlled trial; S-1, gimeracil and oteracil porassium capsules.