Objective To assess effectiveness of chemotherapy versus non-chemotherapy in the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma.
Methods We searched MEDLINE (1966 to Dec. 2008), EMBASE (1984 to Dec. 2008), OVID (1980 to Dec. 2008), CBMdisc (1980 to Dec. 2008), and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. We also handsearched Journal of Chinese Oncology, Journal of Chinese Clinical Oncology, and Tumor (from inception to Dec. 2008). The quality of the included studies was evaluated by two reviewers independently and meta-analysis was performed for results of the homogenous studies.
Results Six studies involving 836 participants related to primary, high grade, nonmetastatic soft tissue sarcoma were included. All included studies were unclear in reporting randomization and blinding; all studies reported the number and the reason of withdraw; and baseline conditions of all studies were compared. The results of meta-analyses showed that there were no significant differences in 5-year overal survival (RR=0.90, 95%CI0.76 to 1.06), local recurrence (OR=0.69, 95%CI 0.36 to 1.32), distant recurrence (OR=0.83, 95%CI 0.62 to 1.11), and overall recurrence (RR=0.91, 95%CI 0.78 to 1.06) between the chemotherapy group and the control group. But as to 5-year disease-free survival, the chemotherapy group was better than the control group (RR=0.73, 95%CI 0.63 to 0.86).
Conclusion There is no advantage for the chemotherapy group over the control group in 5-year overal survival, local recurrence, distant recurrence and overall recurrence. Due to the risk of selection bias, performance bias and published bias, the evidence is not b enough to judge whether chemotherapy is better than control in treating soft tissue sarcoma. Our conclusion suggests that larger-scale randomized trials should be performed in future.
Citation: MA XiaoWei,BAI JingPing,XILIN Boleri,JIANG RenBing,HE ZuSheng. Chemotherapy versus Non-Chemotherapy in the Treatment of Soft Tissue Sarcoma: A Systematic Review. Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine, 2010, 10(5): 618-624. doi: 10.7507/1672-2531.20100458 Copy