What do systematic reviews say?

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

Chemotherapy vs best supportive care

Chemotherapy probably leads to higher severe adverse effects compared with best supportive care (moderate certainty).

• Second‐line systemic therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.19 [1.01, 1.4]
  1 study · 279 participants
  Moderate

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

Preoperative radiotherapy vs surgery

• Preoperative radiotherapy and curative surgery for the management of localised rectal carcinoma 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 3211 participants
  Low

FOLFOX + targeted therapy vs FOLFOX

It is very uncertain whether FOLFOX + targeted therapy changes overall survival compared with FOLFOX (very low certainty).

• Second‐line systemic therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 0.92 [0.82, 1.04]
  2 studies · 1432 participants
  Very low

FOLFOX + targeted therapy vs FOLFOX

FOLFOX + targeted therapy may leads to lower progression‐free survival compared with FOLFOX (low certainty).

• Second‐line systemic therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 0.76 [0.66, 0.86]
  2 studies · 1432 participants
  Low

FOLFOX + targeted therapy vs FOLFOX

FOLFOX + targeted therapy probably leads to higher overall tumour response compared with FOLFOX (moderate certainty).

• Second‐line systemic therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 2.64 [1.71, 4.06]
  1 study · 578 participants
  Moderate

FOLFOX + targeted therapy vs FOLFOX

FOLFOX + targeted therapy leads to higher severe adverse effects compared with FOLFOX (high certainty).

• Second‐line systemic therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.2 [1.13, 1.28]
  2 studies · 1414 participants
  High

FOLFIRI + targeted therapy vs FOLFIRI

FOLFIRI + targeted therapy leads to lower overall survival compared with FOLFIRI (high certainty).

• Second‐line systemic therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 0.84 [0.77, 0.91]
  6 studies · 3335 participants
  High

FOLFIRI + targeted therapy vs FOLFIRI

FOLFIRI + targeted therapy leads to lower progression‐free survival compared with FOLFIRI (high certainty).

• Second‐line systemic therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 0.78 [0.71, 0.87]
  6 studies · 3335 participants
  High

FOLFIRI + targeted therapy vs FOLFIRI

FOLFIRI + targeted therapy probably leads to higher overall tumour response compared with FOLFIRI (moderate certainty).

• Second‐line systemic therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 2.07 [1.31, 3.28]
  6 studies · 3192 participants
  Moderate

FOLFIRI + targeted therapy vs FOLFIRI

FOLFIRI + targeted therapy probably leads to higher severe adverse effects compared with FOLFIRI (moderate certainty).

• Second‐line systemic therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.3 [1.17, 1.45]
  6 studies · 3341 participants
  Moderate

Modern chemotherapy regimens vs 5‐flourouracil

Modern chemotherapy regimens probably leads to lower overall survival compared with 5‐flourouracil (moderate certainty).

• Second‐line systemic therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 0.69 [0.51, 0.94]
  1 study · 167 participants
  Moderate