Comparison 1. PDS: SVRD (< 1 cm) versus NMRD.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1.1 Overall survival	17		Hazard Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	2.03 [1.80, 2.29]
1.1.1 Advanced stage (III/IV)	7		Hazard Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.93 [1.55, 2.39]
1.1.2 Stage III	2		Hazard Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	2.29 [1.66, 3.15]
1.1.3 Stage IIIC	5		Hazard Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	2.49 [1.98, 3.13]
1.1.4 Stage IV	3		Hazard Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.73 [1.34, 2.22]
1.2 Overall survival ‐ sensitivity analysis using fixed‐effect model	17		Hazard Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.05 [1.91, 2.20]
1.2.1 Advanced stage (III/IV)	7		Hazard Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.01 [1.84, 2.19]
1.2.2 Stage III	2		Hazard Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.17 [1.83, 2.58]
1.2.3 Stage IIIC	5		Hazard Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.49 [1.98, 3.13]
1.2.4 Stage IV	3		Hazard Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.73 [1.34, 2.22]
1.3 Overall survival ‐ sensitivity analysis excluding Klar 2016	16		Hazard Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.99 [1.75, 2.27]
1.3.1 Advanced stage (III/IV)	6		Hazard Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.81 [1.46, 2.25]
1.3.2 Stage III	2		Hazard Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	2.29 [1.66, 3.15]
1.3.3 Stage IIIC	5		Hazard Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	2.49 [1.98, 3.13]
1.3.4 Stage IV	3		Hazard Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.73 [1.34, 2.22]
1.4 Progression‐free survival	10		Hazard Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.88 [1.63, 2.16]
1.4.1 Advanced stage (III/IV)	5		Hazard Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.82 [1.43, 2.32]
1.4.2 Stage III	2		Hazard Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	2.21 [1.54, 3.18]
1.4.3 Stage IIIC	1		Hazard Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	2.03 [1.25, 3.31]
1.4.4 Stage IV	2		Hazard Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.68 [1.26, 2.24]
1.5 Progression‐free survival ‐ sensitivity analysis using fixed‐effect model	10		Hazard Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.93 [1.80, 2.06]
1.5.1 Advanced stage (III/IV)	5		Hazard Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.92 [1.77, 2.08]
1.5.2 Stage III	2		Hazard Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.01 [1.76, 2.31]
1.5.3 Stage IIIC	1		Hazard Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.03 [1.25, 3.31]
1.5.4 Stage IV	2		Hazard Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.68 [1.26, 2.24]
1.6 Progression‐free survival ‐ sensitivity analysis excluding Klar 2016	9		Hazard Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.83 [1.56, 2.13]
1.6.1 Advanced stage (III/IV)	4		Hazard Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.69 [1.33, 2.14]
1.6.2 Stage III	2		Hazard Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	2.21 [1.54, 3.18]
1.6.3 Stage IIIC	1		Hazard Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	2.03 [1.25, 3.31]
1.6.4 Stage IV	2		Hazard Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.68 [1.26, 2.24]