What do systematic reviews say?

Radiotherapy vs full axillary surgery

Radiotherapy alone leads to lower local recurrence compared with full axillary surgery (high certainty).

• Axillary treatment for operable primary breast cancer 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 0.8 [0.64, 0.99]
  4 studies · 22256 participants
  High

Hypofractionated radiotherapy vs daily conventionally fractionated radiotherapy

It is very uncertain whether hypofractionated radiotherapy changes overall survival compared with daily conventionally fractionated radiotherapy (very low certainty).

• External beam radiation dose escalation for high grade glioma 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 0.95 [0.78, 1.17]
  5 studies · 943 participants
  Very low

Hypofractionated radiotherapy vs daily conventionally fractionated radiotherapy

• External beam radiation dose escalation for high grade glioma 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  4 studies · 848 participants
  GRADE not reported

Hypofractionated radiotherapy vs daily conventionally fractionated radiotherapy

• External beam radiation dose escalation for high grade glioma 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies · 0 participants
  GRADE not reported

Hypofractionated radiotherapy vs daily conventionally fractionated radiotherapy

• External beam radiation dose escalation for high grade glioma 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 361 participants
  GRADE not reported

Hypofractionated radiotherapy vs daily conventionally fractionated radiotherapy

Hypofractionated radiotherapy showed no clear difference in overall survival for subgroup aged ≥ 60 years glioblastoma compared with daily conventionally fractionated radiotherapy (high certainty).

• External beam radiation dose escalation for high grade glioma 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 1.16 [0.92, 1.46]
  2 studies · 293 participants
  High

Hysterectomy (simple or radical) with radiotherapy vs Radiotherapy alone

Hysterectomy (simple or radical) with radiotherapy showed no clear difference in progression‐free survival Median compared with radiotherapy alone (low certainty).

• Hysterectomy with radiotherapy or chemotherapy or both for women with locally advanced cervical cancer 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 0.77 [0.54, 1.1]
  1 study · 256 participants
  Low

Hysterectomy (simple or radical) with radiotherapy vs Radiotherapy alone

• Hysterectomy with radiotherapy or chemotherapy or both for women with locally advanced cervical cancer 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 118 participants
  Very low

Hysterectomy (simple or radical) with radiotherapy vs Radiotherapy alone

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Hysterectomy with radiotherapy or chemotherapy or both for women with locally advanced cervical cancer 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Hysterectomy (simple or radical) with radiotherapy vs Radiotherapy alone

Hysterectomy (simple or radical) with radiotherapy may leads to higher severe/serious adverse events compared with radiotherapy alone (low certainty).

• Hysterectomy with radiotherapy or chemotherapy or both for women with locally advanced cervical cancer 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 4
  2 studies · 374 participants
  Low

Hysterectomy (simple or radical) with radiotherapy vs Radiotherapy alone

Hysterectomy (simple or radical) with radiotherapy showed no clear difference in overall survival Median compared with radiotherapy alone (low certainty).

• Hysterectomy with radiotherapy or chemotherapy or both for women with locally advanced cervical cancer 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 0.89 [0.61, 1.29]
  1 study · 256 participants
  Low

Altered fractionation radiotherapy plus chemotherapy vs Chemoradiotherapy with standard (conventional) fractionation

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy 2010 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Discussion: 'there are no completed trials of altered fractionation plus chemotherapy versus chemoradiotherapy with standard fractionation.'
  0 studies
  No studies found

Preoperative radiotherapy vs surgery

Preoperative radiotherapy probably leads to lower overall mortality ( compared with surgery alone (moderate certainty).

• Preoperative radiotherapy and curative surgery for the management of localised rectal carcinoma 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  Peto OR 0.9 [0.83, 0.98]
  4 studies · 4663 participants
  Moderate

Preoperative radiotherapy vs surgery

Preoperative radiotherapy showed no clear difference in overall mortality ‐ only total mesorectal excision ( compared with surgery alone (low certainty).

• Preoperative radiotherapy and curative surgery for the management of localised rectal carcinoma 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  Peto OR 0.97 [0.87, 1.08]
  2 studies · 3211 participants
  Low

Preoperative radiotherapy vs surgery

Preoperative radiotherapy showed no clear difference in cause‐specific mortality ( compared with surgery alone (low certainty).

• Preoperative radiotherapy and curative surgery for the management of localised rectal carcinoma 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  Peto OR 0.89 [0.77, 1.03]
  2 studies · 2145 participants
  Low

Preoperative radiotherapy vs surgery

Preoperative radiotherapy probably leads to lower local recurrence ( compared with surgery alone (moderate certainty).

• Preoperative radiotherapy and curative surgery for the management of localised rectal carcinoma 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  Peto OR 0.48 [0.4, 0.57]
  4 studies · 4663 participants
  Moderate

Preoperative radiotherapy vs surgery

Preoperative radiotherapy showed no clear difference in curative resection ( compared with surgery alone (low certainty).

• Preoperative radiotherapy and curative surgery for the management of localised rectal carcinoma 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1 [0.97, 1.02]
  4 studies · 4673 participants
  Low

Preoperative radiotherapy vs surgery

Preoperative radiotherapy showed no clear difference in sphincter preservation ( compared with surgery alone (low certainty).

• Preoperative radiotherapy and curative surgery for the management of localised rectal carcinoma 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.99 [0.94, 1.04]
  3 studies · 4379 participants
  Low

Preoperative radiotherapy vs surgery

Preoperative radiotherapy may leads to higher postoperative morbidity ‐ sepsis (within 30 days after surgery) compared with surgery alone (low certainty).

• Preoperative radiotherapy and curative surgery for the management of localised rectal carcinoma 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.25 [1.04, 1.52]
  2 studies · 2698 participants
  Low

Preoperative radiotherapy vs surgery

Preoperative radiotherapy may leads to higher postoperative morbidity ‐ surgical complications (within 30 days… compared with surgery alone (low certainty).

• Preoperative radiotherapy and curative surgery for the management of localised rectal carcinoma 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.2 [1.01, 1.42]
  2 studies · 2698 participants
  Low