What do systematic reviews say?

Delayed chemotherapy vs immediate chemotherapy

• Survival differences with immediate versus delayed chemotherapy for asymptomatic incurable metastatic colorectal cancer 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 351 participants
  Low

Chemotherapy vs best supportive care

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Second‐line systemic therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Bevacizumab plus chemotherapy vs chemotherapy alone

Chemotherapy + bevacizumab leads to lower progression‐free survival compared with chemotherapy (high certainty).

• Second‐line systemic therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 0.67 [0.6, 0.75]
  4 studies · 1723 participants
  High

Modern chemotherapy regimens vs 5‐flourouracil

Modern chemotherapy regimens leads to lower progression‐free survival compared with 5‐flourouracil (high certainty).

• Second‐line systemic therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 0.59 [0.49, 0.73]
  2 studies · 470 participants
  High

Oral vs intravenous fluoropyrimidines

Oral probably leads to higher progression‐free survival compared with intravenous fluoropyrimidines (moderate certainty).

• Oral versus intravenous fluoropyrimidines for colorectal cancer 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 1.06 [1.02, 1.11]
  23 studies · 9927 participants
  Moderate

IRI with fluoropyrimidines vs single agent IRI

IRI with fluoropyrimidines probably leads to lower progression‐free survival (Disease progression) compared with single agent IRI (moderate certainty).

• Irinotecan chemotherapy combined with fluoropyrimidines versus irinotecan alone for overall survival and… 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 0.68 [0.53, 0.83]
  3 studies · 600 participants
  Moderate