Table 1.
The summary characteristics of included studies and participants.
| Study | Country | Inclusion period | Sample size | Age (years) | Male (%) | Performance status | Weight loss | Stage | Histology | Previous treatment | Intervention | Control | Follow-up duration | Study quality |
| Furuse 1999 [19] | Japan | 1992–1998 | 314 | 63.5 | 85.7 | ECOG 0–2 | <10.0% | IIIa, IIIb | SC: 148; Ad: 134; LC: 30; other: 2 | No CT, TRT, and TS | 2 cycles, P 80 mg/m2, d1,29+Vi 3 mg/m2, d1, 8,29,36+M 8 mg/m2, d1, 29; q4wks; 56 Gy/2 Gy/fr (5 fr/wk) began at d2 repeated after 10 ds rest | 2 cycles, P 80 mg/m2, d1,29 + Vi 3 mg/m2, d1,8,29,36 +M 8 mg/m2, d1, 29; q4wks; 56 Gy/2 Gy/fr (5 fr/wk) | 5.0 years | 4 |
| Clamon 1999 [20] | USA | 1991–1997 | 250 | 63.0 | 69.2 | ECOG 0–1 | <5.0% | IIIa, IIIb | NA | No CT and TRT | C 100 mg/m2/wk over 6 wks; induced by (P 100 mg/m2, d1,29 + Vin 5 mg/m2 d1,8,15,22,29); 60 Gy/2 Gy/fr (30 frs in 6wks) | P 100 mg/m2, d1,29 + Vin 5 mg/m2 d1,8,15,22,29; 60 Gy/2 Gy/fr (30 frs in 6 wks) | 3.4 years | 3 |
| Ulutin 2000 [21] | Turkey | 1995–1996 | 30 | 18.0–75.0 | NA | ECOG 0–2 | <10.0% | IIIa, IIIb | NA | No CT, TRT, and TS | P 6 mg/m2/d; 60 Gy (split-course) | 2 cycles, P 40 mg/m2 + (E + I) 200 mg/m2 d1,3,5; q4 wk; 60 Gy (split-course) | 1.3 years | 2 |
| Curran 2003 [22] | USA | 1996–2002 | 400 | >18.0 | NA | KPS>70 | < 5.0% | II∗, IIIa, IIIb | NA | No CT and TRT | P 100 mg/m2, d1,29 + Vin 5 mg/m2/wk∗5; 60 Gy/2 Gy/d began on d1 | P 100 mg/m2, d1,29 + Vin 5 mg/m2/wk∗5; 60 Gy/2 Gy/d began on d50 | 6.0 years | 4 |
| Zatloukal 2004 [23] | Czech | 1997–2001 | 102 | 61.5 | 67.6 | WHO/ECOG 0–2 | NA | IIIa, IIIb | SC: 46; Ad: 27; LC: 7; other: 22 | No CT and TRT | 4 cycles, P 80 mg/m2, d1 + V 25 mg/m2, for 1nd,4nd cycles (12.5 mg/m2 for 2nd/3nd cycles) d1,8,15; q4wks; 60 Gy/2 Gy/fr (30 frs in 6 wk) started at day 4 of cycle 2 | 4 cycles, P 80 mg/m2, d1 + V 25 mg/m2, for 1nd,4nd cycles (12.5 mg/m2 for 2nd/3nd cycles) d1,8,15; q4wks; 60 Gy/2 Gy/fr (30 frs in 6 wk) started within 5th-6th wk | 3.3 years | 3 |
| Fournel 2005 [24] | French | 1996–2000 | 201 | 56.5 | 87.6 | ECOG 0–1 | < 10.0% | IIIa-N2,IIIb | SC: 116; Ad: 53; LC: 32 | Untreated | 2 cycles, P 20 mg/m2/d + E 50 mg/m2/d (d1–5,29–33); consolidated by (P 80 mg/m2, d78,106 + V 30 mg/m2/ wk d78–127); 66 Gy/2 Gy/fr (5 fr/wk) started at d1 | 3 cycles, P 120 mg/m2, d1,29,57 + V 30mg/m2/wk, d1–78; q4wks; 66 Gy/2 Gy/fr (5 fr/wk) | 4.8 years | 4 |
| Belani 2005[25] | USA | 1998–2004 | 183 | >18.0 | 68.3 | KPS>70 | < 10.0% | IIIa, IIIb | SC: 75; Ad: 64; LC: 18; mixed: 3; unknown: 20; other: 3 | No CT, TRT, and TS | T 45 mg/m2/wk (1-hr) + C AUC = 2; consolidated by (2 cycles, T 200mg/m2 + C AUC = 6; q3wks); 63 Gy/1.85 Gy/fr (34 frs in 7 wks) | 2 cycles,T 200 mg/m2 + C AUC = 6; q3wks; 63 Gy/1.85 Gy/fr (34 frs in 7 wks) | 3.3 years | 4 |
| Dasgupta 2006 [26] | India | 2001–2005 | 71 | 57.0 | NA | KPS>60 | NA | IIIa, IIIb | SC: 40; Ad: 23; LC: 6; other: 2 | Untreated | (P 20 mg/m2 + E 75 mg/m2) d1–5,22–26; consolidated by -2 cycles of same CT, q3 wks; 50 Gy/2 Gy/fr | 3cycles, P 80 mg/m2, d1+ E 100 mg/m2, d1–3;q3 wks; 60 Gy/2 Gy/fr | 2.0 years | 3 |
| Scagliotti 2006 [27] | Europe | 1999–2004 | 108 | 59.0 | 78.0 | WHO 0–1 | < 5.0% | IIIa, IIIb | SC: 47; Ad: 36; LC: 7; other: 18 | Untreated | D 20 mg/m2/wk, q6 wks; induced by (2 cycles, D 85 mg/m2, d1 + P 40 mg/m2, d1,2; q3wks); 60 Gy/2 Gy/fr (5 fr/wk) | 2 cycles, D 85 mg/m2, d1 t P 40 mg/m2, d1,2; q3wks; 60 Gy/2 Gy/fr (5 fr/wk) began at d43 | 1.3 years | 4 |
| Huber 2006 [28] | Germany | 1997–2004 | 212 | 61.5 | 84.9 | KPS>70 | NA | IIIa, IIIb | SC: 130; Ad: 41; LC: 16; mixed: 7; not classified: 18 | No CT and TRT | T 60 mg/m2/wk(1-hr) for 6 wks, up to 6 hours before RT; induced by (2 cycles, T 200 mg/m2 + C AUC = 6;q3wks); 60–66 Gy (mediastinum/primary:50 Gy, macroscopic:10–16 Gy) | 2 cycles, T 200 mg/m2 + C AUC = 6; q3wks; 60–66 Gy (mediastinum/ primary:50 Gy, macroscopic:10–16 Gy) | 3.2 years | 4 |
| Belderbos 2007 [29] | UK | 1999-2005 | 158 | 63.0 | 96.2 | WHO 0–1 | < 10.0% | I∗,II∗, IIIa, IIIb | SC: 63; Ad: 44; not classified: 42; mixed: 1; other: 8 | NA | P 6 mg/m2/d; 66 Gy/2.75 Gy/fr (24 frs in 32 days) | 2 cycles, P 75 mg/m2, d2 + G 1250 mg/m2, d1, 8; 66 Gy/2.75 Gy/fr (24 frs in 32 days) | 3.3 years | 3 |
| Crvenkova 2009 [30] | Macedonia | 2005–2008 | 85 | 58.1 | 88.2 | ECOG 0–1 | < 10.0% | I∗,II∗, IIIa, IIIb | SC: 56; Ad: 16; LC: 5; not classified: 8 | Untreated | C (AUC × 6) on d1 and E on d1–3, repeated every 3 wks; 60 Gy in 30 frs of 2 Gy/fr for 5 days | C (AUC × 6) on d1 and E on d1–3, repeated every 3 wks; 60 Gy in 30 frs of 2 Gy/fr for 5 days | 1.4 years | 2 |
| Curran 2011 [31] | USA | 1994–1998 | 390 | 61.5 | 63.5 | KPS>70 | < 5.0% | IIIa, IIIb | SC: 150; Ad: 126; LC: 56; mixed: 4; not classified: 52; other: 2 | No CT, TRT, and TS | C at 100 mg/m2 on d1 and d29 V at 5 mg/m2 per week for 5 wks with 60 Gy TRT beginning on day 50 | C at 100 mg/m2 on d1 and d29 V at 5 mg/m2 per week for 5 wks with 60 Gy TRT once daily beginning on day 1 | 11.0 years | 4 |
| Maguire 2014 [32] | UK | 2005–2010 | 130 | 61.9 | 30.8 | ECOG 0–1 | NA | IIIa, IIIb | SC: 83; Ad: 35; other: 12 | No CT, TRT, and TS | C 20 mg/m2 1–4 and 16–19. V was reduced to 15 mg/m2, and given prior to frs 1, 6, 15 and 20. A further 1 or 2 cycles of C (80 mg/m2 day 1) and V (25 mg/m2 day 1 and 8) were given 4–6 wks; 55 Gy in 2.75 Gy/fr for 4 wks | C 80 mg/m2 IV on day 1 and V 25 mg/m2 IV on day 1 and 8 (q 21) for 3–4 cycles; 55 Gy in 2.75 Gy/fr for 4 wks | 3.0 years | 3 |
Ad = adenocarcinoma, AUC = area under the time concentration curve, C = carboplatin, CT = chemotherapy, d = day, D = docetaxel, E = etoposide, fr = fraction, G = gemcitabine, hr = hour, I = ifosfamide, LC = large cell, M = mitomycin, P = cisplatin, q = every, RT = radiotherapy, SC = squamous cell, T = paclitaxel, TRT = thoracic radiotherapy, TS = thoracic surgery, V = vinorelbine, Vi = vindesine, Vin = vinblastine , wk = week.