Increased risk of high-grade hemorrhage in cancer patients treated with gemcitabine: a meta-analysis of 20 randomized controlled trials.
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ABSTRACT: PURPOSE: Gemcitabine, a third-generation anticancer agent, has been shown to be active in several solid tumors. High-grade hemorrhage (grade ? 3) has been reported with this drug, although the overall risk remains unclear. We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials evaluating the incidence and risk of high-grade hemorrhage associated with gemcitabine. METHODS: Pubmed was searched for articles published from January 1, 1990 to December 31, 2012. Eligible studies included prospective randomized controlled phase II and III trials evaluating gemcitabine-based vs non-gemcitabine-based therapy in patients with solid tumors. Data on high-grade hemorrhage were extracted. Overall incidence rates, relative risk (RR), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated employing fixed- or random-effects models depending on the heterogeneity of included trials. RESULTS: A total of 6433 patients from 20 trials were included. Among patients treated with gemcitabine-based chemotherapy, the overall incidence of high-grade hemorrhage was 1.7% (95%CI: 0.9-3.1%), and the RR of high-grade hemorrhage was 2.727 (95%CI: 1.581-4.702, p<0.001). Exploratory subgroup analysis revealed the highest RR of hemorrhage in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients (RR: 3.234; 95%CI, 1.678-6.233; p<0.001), phase II trials (RR 7.053, 95%CI: 1.591-31.27; p = 0.01), trials reported during 2006-2012 (RR: 3.750; 95%CI: 1.735-8.108, p<0.001) and gemcitabine used as single agent (RR 7.48; 95%CI: 0.78-71.92, p = 0.081). CONCLUSION: Gemcitabine is associated with a significant increase risk of high-grade hemorrhage in patients with solid tumors when compared with non-gemcitabine-based therapy.
SUBMITTER: Hu Y
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3781122 | biostudies-literature | 2013
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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