Objective To assess the efficacy and toxicity of the maintenance radiotherapy for epithelial ovarian cancer. Methods We searched MEDLINE (1950 to 2009), EMbase (1966 to 2009), The Cochrane Library (Issue 1, 2009), CBMdisc (1978 to 2009), CNKI (1979 to 2009), VIP (1989 to 2009) and relevant internet websites to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of maintenance radiotherapy for epithelial ovarian cancer. The quality of the included trials was assessed by Cochrane Systematic Review Handbook. Meta-analyses were conducted by RevMan 5.0 and SPSS 10.0 software. Results A total of 5 RCTs involving 529 patients were identified. The result of meta-analyses showed that the whole-abdominal radiation increased the 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) at RR1.76 and 95%CI 1.13 to 2.73, while it showed no effect on the 5-year overall survival (OS) at RR1.30 and 95%CI 0.96 to 1.76. The main adverse reactions of maintenance radiotherapy for epithelial ovarian cancer included diarrhea and abdominal pains, whose severity was related to radiation dose. Conclusion The whole-abdominal radiation can increase the 5-year PFS while its effect on the 5-year OS needs to be further studied.
Objective To assess the clinical effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of adjuvant radiotherapy(RT) for endometrial cancer compared to other treatmen. Method The following electronic databases were searched: MEDLINE, EMBAS, CancerLit, CBMdisc, CNKI. The Cochrane Library (Issue 3, 2007). Correlative websites, such as ‘google’, were searched by hand. The studies included in the references of eligible studies were additionally searched RCTs of adjuvant radiotherapy before March, 2007 comparing adjuvant radiotherapy with other treatment for endometrial cancer were included. Eligible RCTs were assessed for quality by two reviewers independently: criteria of concealment of treatment, blinding, standard validity and reliability of outcome measures, withdraw rate, intention-to-treat analysis and homogeneity between centers were analyzed for each study. All data were performed by a meta-analysis. Result Seven RCTs met the inclusion criteria/ Methodological quality was level B. Five RCTs were compared adjuvant radiotherapy (external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and /or intracavitary radiotherapy (ICRT) with other treatment, Two RCTs including one RCT was compared two different fractionation schedules for postoperative vagina high-dose-rate(HDR) irradiation in endometrial carcinoma the other RCT was compared two different radiotherapy method (pelvic radiotherapy and vagina radiotherapy vs vagina radiotherapy) for endometrial carcinoma. No survival different were identified; none of the studies was powered enough to show a survival benefit. But who received RT had fewer local (pelvic and/or vagina) recurrences compared to women not receiving RT. Adverse effects is found more often in RT than in not RT, there is less localrecurrences in combined radiotherapy (pelvic radiotherapy and vagina radiotherapy) than in vagina radiotherapy. lowdose vagina radiotherapy had few vagina shortening than high-dose radiotherapy, there are the same 5-overall surviva, local recurrences and distant recurrences. Conclusions Adjuvant radiotherapy for endometrial can cer can better control local recurrences than observation for postoperative endometrial cancer. Effects about overall survival, distant recurrences and disease-free survival are similar; low-dose vagina radiotherapy has few vagina shortening than high-dose radiotherapy, there are the same 5-years overall survival, local recurrences and distant recurrences for endometrial cancer, there is less local recurrences in combined radiotherapy (pelvic radiotherapy plus vagina radiotherapy) than in vagina radiotherapy for endometrial cancer; postoperative high-dose brachytherapy can get good cost-effectiveness; Effect of adjuvant radiotherapy for overall survival and disease-free survival of endometrial carcinoma are needed to further assessed by rigorously designs, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials adjuvant radiotherapy for endometrial carcinoma.
Objective To evaluate the clinical effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of postoperative radiotherapy on endometrial carcinoma. Methods We searched The Cochrane Library, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), The National Research Register, Health Technology Assessment Database (HTA), MEDLINE, EMbase, CancerLit, CBMdisc, VIP, WANFANG DATABASE and CNKI to March 2007. Relevant journals were also hand searched. Study selection and assessment, data collection and analyses were undertaken by two reviewers independently according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Meta-analyses were performed. Results Three RCTs involving 1126 patients were included. Each of the 3 RCTs compared adjuvant radiotherapy (external beam radiotherapy, EBRT) versus chemotherapy. Two trials (730 patients) compared adjuvant radiotherapy versus CAP chemotherapy (carboplatin + adriamycin + cisplatin). The other trial (396 patients) compared adjuvant radiotherapy versus AP chemotherapy (adriamycin + cisplatin). The meta-analyses showed that for patients with endometrial cancer at stage Ic, II or III, there were no significant differences between adjuvant radiotherapy and CAP in 5-year overall survival (OS), 5-year progress-free survival (PFS) and 5-year recurrence (local, distant, total). For patients with endometrial cancer at stage III or IV, adjuvant radiotherapy was superior to AP regimen on 5-year OS and 5-year PFS. The incidence of grade 3/4 toxicities of digestive system and urogenital system was similar between the two groups of patients. The chemotherapy group showed a higher incidence of grade 3/4 toxicities of hematology than the radiotherapy group. Conclusion The effect of adjuvant pelvic radiotherapy for endometrial carcinoma at stage Ic, II or III is similar to that of adjuvant chemotherapy. However, for endometrial carcinoma at stage III or IV, the effect of radiotherapy is superior to that of chemotherapy. Radiotherapy has a lower role of myelosuppression than chemotherapy. No significant difference was observed between the radiotherapy and chemotherapy in grade 3/4 toxicities of the digestive system and the urogenital system.
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of mifepristone concomitant with misoprostol for medical abortion. Methods We searched the related original studies worldwide, and controlled prospective studies and systematic reviews based on randomized controlled trials （RCTs）. Nine electronic databases were searched. Ten journals and reference lists of eligible studies were handsearched. Two reviewers independently screened the studies for eligibility, evaluated the quality, and extracted the data from eligible studies, with confirmation by cross checking. Any disputes were decided by a third person. Meta-analysis was conducted using statistical software RevMan 4.2. After heterogeneity test was done （α=0.05 ） , data without heterogeneity were pooled using a fixed effect model, and those with heterogeneity could be solved by sensitivity＂ analysis, subgroup analysis or random effect model. Results We found eight original trials （n = 3 348 ） that compared medical abortion with surgical abortion, nine trials （n =6 116） that investigating the effect of gestational ages on medical abortion, five trials （n = 1 934） on the use of mifepristone and two trials （n =2381 ） on intervals of administration of mifepristone and misoprostol were located. Quality of foreign studies was better than that of Chinese studies. Therate of complete abortion was higher in surgical abortion group than that in medical abortion group with odds ratio （OR） 0. 18 and 95% confidence interval （CI） 0. 11 to 0.27. The rate of incomplete abortion and abortion failure was higher in medical abortion group with OR 3.32, and 95% CI 1.79 to 6.17, OR 7.36, 95% CI 4. 17 to 12.98, respectively. The rate of complete abortion in the group with gestational age over 49 days was lower than that with gestational age under 49 days with OR 0.51 and 95% CI 0.43 to 0.61. The rate of incomplete abortion and abortion failure was higher in the group with gestational age over 49 days with OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.32 to 2.09 and OR 3.37, 95% CI 2.30 to 4. 94.There were no significant differences observed in the rates of complete abortion, incomplete abortion, abortion failed, time of expelling pregnant sac and time of menses recovery between the single and multi-dosage of mifepristone. Except for the rate of complete abortion, which was higher in 〈48h group, there was a comparable effectiveness for different intervals of mifepristone and ntisoprostol. Conclusions This review showes that it is important to improve the quality of Chinese original studies. Although the effectiveness is better in the surgical abortion group, the rate of complete abortion of medical abortion achieved is 91.6% （1 648/1 800）. This is acceptable for clinicians and women who do not want to be pregnance. The rate of complete abortion is lower in the gestation over 49 days, which had a statistically difference, but little clinical significance. It is necessary to consider increasing the gestational age of medical abortion, especially for those women who have contradictions of surgical abortion or are afraid of operation. Effectiveness of single dosage of mifeprostone is similar to that ofmulti-dosage, but single dosage might be more convenient. This review suggests that shortening the interval ofmifepristone and misoprostol administration should be considered and the best and shortest interval time need to be identified with better evidence.