Phase II and phase III randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared gemcitabine plus paclitaxel versus carboplatin plus gemcitabine or paclitaxel in untreated patients with pathologically confirmed stage III or IV non-small cell lung cancer were eligible for inclusion.
The relevant outcomes were one-year survival, overall response rate, median survival time, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anaemia, nausea and vomiting. Response was evaluated according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST).
The included trials compared gemcitabine (1000mg/m2) plus paclitaxel (175 to 200mg/m2) with carboplatin doublets of paclitaxel (175 to 225mg/m2) plus carboplatin (dose AUC 6 to 7) or gemcitabine (1000mg/m2) plus carboplatin (dose AUC 5.5 to 6). The dosing schedule was similar across trials, with a loading phase followed by 21-day cycles. The mean age of included patients was 62 to 67 years.
The authors did not state how many reviewers performed study selection.