BACKGROUND

Combining pemetrexed with bevacizumab may have some potential in improving the efficacy in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and this meta-analysis aims to explore the impact of pemetrexed addition to bevacizumab on treatment efficacy for NSCLC.

METHODS

PubMed, EMbase, Web of science, EBSCO, and Cochrane library databases were systematically searched, and we included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of pemetrexed addition to bevacizumab on treatment efficacy in patients with NSCLC. Overall survival and progression-free survival were included in this meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Four RCTs were finally included in the meta-analysis. Overall, compared with bevacizumab for NSCLC, pemetrexed addition showed significantly improved overall survival (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.76 to 0.99; P = 0.03), survival rate (odd ratio [OR] = 1.41; 95% CI = 1.06 to 1.86; P = 0.02), progression-free survival (HR = 0.63; 95% CI = 0.55 to 0.72; P < 0.00001) and progression-free survival rate (OR = 1.92; 95% CI = 1.38 to 2.67; P < 0.00001), but led to the increase in grade ≥ 3 adverse events (OR = 2.15; 95% CI = 1.62 to 2.84; P < 0.00001).

CONCLUSIONS

Pemetrexed addition may be effective to improve treatment efficacy for NSCLC compared to bevacizumab treatment.