This network meta-analysis (NMA) was conducted to compare the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with liver metastases.
Materials and MethodsEnglish literature was retrieved from the PubMed, American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), and European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) databases from January 2015 to January 2021. We pooled the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) hazard ratios (HRs) using a network meta-analysis and ranked treatments by the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA). Publication bias was evaluated by Begg's and Egger's tests. STATA15.0 was used for the sensitivity analysis, and the remaining statistical analyses were performed using R 4.0.2.
ResultsNine eligible phase III randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included, including 1,141 patients with liver metastases. Pembrolizumab + chemotherapy ranked highest, followed by atezolizumab + bevacizumab + chemotherapy and nivolumab. However, no significant difference in OS rates was observed across these three treatments (HR, 0.98; 95% CI: 0.43-2.22 for pembrolizumab + chemotherapy vs. atezolizumab + bevacizumab + chemotherapy; HR, 0.91; 95% CI: 0.52-1.57 for pembrolizumab + chemotherapy vs. nivolumab). Regarding the PFS rate, atezolizumab + bevacizumab + chemotherapy and pembrolizumab + chemotherapy ranked highest and no significant difference was observed between them (HR, 0.79; 95% CI: 0.36-1.70 for atezolizumab + bevacizumab + chemotherapy vs. pembrolizumab + chemotherapy).
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