What do systematic reviews say?

Afatinib vs chemotherapy alone

Afatinib showed no clear difference in overall survival compared with chemotherapy (high certainty).

• First‐line treatment of advanced epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation positive non‐squamous non‐small cell… 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 0.91 [0.75, 1.1]
  2 studies · 709 participants
  High

Chemmotherapy combined with biological therapy vs chemotherapy alone

Chemmotherapy combined with biological therapy showed no clear difference in overall survival compared with chemotherapy (moderate certainty).

• Salvage systemic therapy for advanced gastric and oesophago‐gastric junction adenocarcinoma 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 0.93 [0.83, 1.04]
  7 studies · 2743 participants
  Moderate

EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) vs observation

EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) showed no clear difference in overall survival compared with observation alone (low certainty).

• Epidermal growth factor receptor blockers for the treatment of ovarian cancer 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 0.99 [0.81, 1.2]
  1 study · 835 participants
  Low

Anti‐PD1 monoclonal antibodies vs chemotherapy alone

Anti‐PD1 monoclonal antibodies leads to lower overall survival† compared with chemotherapy (high certainty).

• Systemic treatments for metastatic cutaneous melanoma 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 0.42 [0.37, 0.48]
  418 participants
  High

BRAF inhibitors vs chemotherapy alone

BRAF inhibitors leads to lower overall survival† compared with chemotherapy (high certainty).

• Systemic treatments for metastatic cutaneous melanoma 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 0.4 [0.28, 0.57]
  925 participants
  High

MEK inhibitors vs chemotherapy alone

MEK inhibitors showed no clear difference in overall survival† compared with chemotherapy (low certainty).

• Systemic treatments for metastatic cutaneous melanoma 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 0.85 [0.58, 1.25]
  496 participants
  Low

Bethanechol vs Artificial saliva

Bethanechol showed no clear difference in overall survival compared with artificial saliva; GRADE not reported.

• Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  40 weeks postRT
  RR 1.59 [0.43, 5.84]
  1 study · 43 participants
  GRADE not reported

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF; palifermin or repifermin), intravenous vs placebo

Palifermin showed no clear difference in overall survival compared with placebo (moderate certainty).

• Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  42 to 72 months from baseline
  HR 1.00 [0.72, 1.39]
  3 studies
  Moderate

Amifostine (intravenous) vs Amifostine (subcutaneous)

Amifostine (intravenous) showed no clear difference in overall survival compared with amifostine (subcutaneous); GRADE not reported.

• Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  48 months postRT
  HR 1.36 [0.89, 2.10]
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Pilocarpine vs no treatment/placebo

It is very uncertain whether pilocarpine changes overall survival compared with no treatment/placebo (very low certainty).

• Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Up to and including 6 months postRT
  RR 1.07 [0.80, 1.43]
  1 study · 60 participants
  Very low

Chinese medicine vs no treatment/placebo

• Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  12 months postRT
  Insufficient evidence to determine any effect on overall survival (Hu 2005; Analysis 6.4)
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Amifostine vs no treatment/placebo

It is very uncertain whether amifostine changes overall survival compared with no treatment/placebo (very low certainty).

• Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  12 to 24 months postRT
  HR 1.18 [0.85, 1.66]
  2 studies · 271 participants
  Very low

Oral vs intravenous fluoropyrimidines

Oral showed no clear difference in overall survival compared with intravenous fluoropyrimidines (high certainty).

• Oral versus intravenous fluoropyrimidines for colorectal cancer 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 0.92 [0.84, 1]
  7 studies · 8902 participants
  High

Oral vs intravenous fluoropyrimidines

Oral showed no clear difference in overall survival compared with intravenous fluoropyrimidines (high certainty).

• Oral versus intravenous fluoropyrimidines for colorectal cancer 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 1.02 [0.99, 1.05]
  29 studies · 12079 participants
  High

Summary of findings 2: PLD alone vs other conventional chemotherapy

Summary of findings 2: PLD alone showed no clear difference in overall survival (OS) compared with other conventional chemotherapy (moderate certainty).

• Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin for relapsed epithelial ovarian cancer 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 0.96 [0.77, 1.19]
  6 studies · 1995 participants
  Moderate

Summary of findings table ‐ Platinum‐sensitive recurrent EOC: PARPi monotherapy vs chemotherapy alone

Summary of findings table ‐ Platinum‐sensitive recurrent EOC: PARPi… showed no clear difference in overall survival (OS) compared with chemotherapy (low certainty).

• Poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors for the treatment of ovarian cancer 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 0.95 [0.62, 1.47]
  2 studies · 331 participants
  Low

Summary of findings table ‐ Platinum‐sensitive recurrent EOC: PARPi monotherapy vs placebo (maintenance therapy)

Summary of findings table ‐ Platinum‐sensitive recurrent EOC: PARPi… showed no clear difference in overall survival (OS) compared with placebo after chemotherapy (maintenance therapy) (moderate certainty).

• Poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors for the treatment of ovarian cancer 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 0.88 [0.65, 1.2]
  2 studies · 560 participants
  Moderate

Gefitinib vs chemotherapy alone

Gefitinib showed no clear difference in overall survival (OS) compared with chemotherapy (moderate certainty).

• Gefitinib for advanced non‐small cell lung cancer 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 0.98 [0.91, 1.46]
  2 studies · 275 participants
  Moderate
• Gefitinib for advanced non‐small cell lung cancer 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 1.02 [0.91, 1.15]
  2 studies · 1607 participants
  Moderate

Anti‐cancer therapy vs best supportive care

Anti‐cancer therapy showed no clear difference in overall survival compared with best supportive care (moderate certainty).

• Chemotherapy and radiotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 1.08 [0.88, 1.33]
  4 studies · 298 participants
  Moderate

Fluoropyrimidine combinations vs fluoropyrimidine alone

Fluoropyrimidine combinations showed no clear difference in overall survival compared with fluoropyrimidine alone (low certainty).

• Chemotherapy and radiotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 0.84 [0.61, 1.15]
  4 studies · 491 participants
  Low