Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Completed, randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were included.
Specific interventions included in the review
Polychemotherapy versus best supportive care in non-small cell lung cancer of Stage IIIB and IV. Chemotherapy in the included studies: cyclophosphamide, epirubicine, cisplatin alternated with methotrexate, belustine, etoposide, methotrexate, doxorubicine, cisplatin, vinblastine, vindesine.
Participants included in the review
Patients with Stage IIIB or IV non-small cell lung cancer. The included studies all had an age eligibility criteria: 5 studies had age less than 70 years, the other 2 had age less than 75 years. All included studies required no prior chemotherapy, one required no prior radiotherapy as well. Four studies had treatment until progression,two had treatment continued only if objective response and one study had a maximum of four courses.
Outcomes assessed in the review
Mortality was assessed at 3, 6, 9, 12 and 18 months.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The authors do not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many of the authors performed the selection.