Table 1.

Overview of systematic literature reviews of HRQoL in advanced NSCLC trials published since 2007 in chronological order.

References	Title	Purpose	Time frame	Conclusions	Limitations
Tanvetyanon et al. (14)	A systematic review of quality of life associated with standard chemotherapy regimens for advanced non-small cell lung cancer.	To evaluate the effect of standard chemotherapy regimens.	January 1966–May 2006	No large varieties between chemotherapies have been found. HRQoL outcome comparisons are hardly feasible due to heterogeneity and low compliance to HRQoL evaluations.	Focuses solely on chemotherapy. Only 13 articles are included.
Pat et al. (15)	Systematic review of symptom control and quality of life in studies on chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer: how CONSORTed are the data?	To evaluate compliance to the CONSORT checklist in RCT comparing chemotherapy.	1980–August 2005	Compliance to CONSORT is reasonable. Large differences between journals and no improvements were found.	Focuses solely on chemotherapy.
Claassens et al. (16)	Health-related quality of life in non-small-cell lung cancer: an update of a systematic review on methodologic issues in randomized controlled trials.	To evaluate HRQoL measurements	2002–2010	Incorporation of HRQoL endpoints has increased. Quality of HRQoL methodology reporting has improved, however specific domains remain inadequately reported.	Focuses on the qualitative aspects of HRQoL reporting.
Matsuda et al. (17)	Quality of life in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients receiving palliative chemotherapy: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.	To provide an overview of HRQoL in chemotherapy trials.	Until April 2010	Carboplatin-based chemotherapy is associated with better global QoL than cisplatin-based chemotherapy.	Focuses on the comparison of carboplatin- to cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Only 6 trials are included.
Ganguli et al. (18)	The impact of second-line agents on patients' health-related quality of life in the treatment for non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic review.	To assess HRQoL in second-line treatment trials.	2000–2010	Improvement in overall QoL were inconsistent. Large varieties in methodology hinders comparisons.	Focuses solely on second-line chemotherapy.
Saad et al. (19)	Assessment of quality of life in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: an overview of recent randomized trials.	To provide an overview of trials with HRQoL endpoints.	1997–2009	The majority of trials incorporate HRQoL endpoint. Almost half of included trials reported a significant difference.	Articles published only in 13 leading journals.
Damm et al. (3)	Health-related quality of life questionnaires in lung cancer trials: a systematic literature review.	To evaluate the HRQoL measurements used in trials.	2001–2011	Wide range of HRQoL questionnaires was used. The EORTC QLQ-C30 and its lung cancer specific module was the most frequently used.	Focuses mainly on HRQoL questionnaires.
Mannion et al. (20)	Effect of chemotherapy on quality of life in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.	To evaluate HRQoL in palliative chemotherapy trials.	1987–2011	QoL is an important outcome in advanced NSCLC.	Focuses solely on chemotherapy.
Fiteni et al. (21)	Methodology of health-related quality of life analysis in phase III advanced non-small-cell lung cancer clinical trials: a critical review.	To evaluate the methodology of HRQoL analysis and reporting in phase III first-line chemotherapy trials.	2008–2014	Shortcomings and heterogeneity in measurement, analysis and reporting of HRQoL. Comparisons of HRQoL between trials remains therefore difficult.	Focuses on the methodology of HRQoL analysis in phase III trials of first-line chemotherapy.
Bouazza et al. (22)	Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in the management of lung cancer: a systematic review.	To describe and compare available PROMs.	January 2010–February 2016	PROMs are important in clinical practice if introduced adequately.	Focuses on PROMs rather than HRQoL.