| Author |
Definition |
| Cascinu 1995 |
Patients in both arms could receive supportive care such as haemotransfusions for anaemic state; antibiotics to control infections; analgesics, including non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs and opioids; corticosteroids; and vitamin supplements. Also patients could be treated with radiation therapy for painful osseous metastases and pelvic recurrences. In case of jaundice due to an obstruction of biliary tree a percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage could be placed. |
| Cunningham 1998 |
In supportive care alone group, patients were given best supportive care and were seen every three weeks. Supportive care was defined as the best care available judged by attending physician, according to institutional standards for each centre. Supportive care included antibiotics, analgesics, transfusions, corticosteroids, or any other symptomatic therapy (except irinotecan or other topoisomerase I inhibitor), and/or assistance of a psychotherapist. Localised radiation therapy to alleviate symptoms such as pain was allowed provided that total dose delivered was in palliative range according to institutional standards. In irinotecan group patients were given best supportive care and irinotecan.
Analysis of best supportive care
Supportive care and concomitant medications were reported at each visit (every three weeks in both groups). They were classified using the WHO dictionary, and further sub‐classification was done using the WHO code for anatomical therapeutic class (ATC). With these classifications, analgesics were divided into opioids or non‐opioids and analysed in three week blocks. |
| Glimelius 1997 |
The principles of best supportive care, given in both randomization groups have been presented before.
Best supportive care was given in both groups with the same high intensity and included psychosocial support and attempts to relieve any symptoms (analgesics, antiemetic drugs, nutritional support, corticosteroids, palliative radiotherapy, surgery and so on). These principles have been outlined in a regional care programme. |
| Scheithauer 1993 |
Supportive care consisted of analgesics, nutritional support, blood transfusions to correct severe anaemia, and psychological support. Patients were randomly allocated to receive supportive care and chemotherapy (arm A) or supportive care only (arm B). |
