Table 1 Characteristics of 11 included studies
From: Cetuximab for esophageal cancer: an updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Subtype classification of esophageal cancer | Study (year) | Design | Disease | Arms | Country | Years enrolled | Population (N, age) | Sex: Male/Famale | Follow-up duration (months) | Primary end-point | Main outcome measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Non-metastatic esophageal cancer | Rades et al. (2014) [23] | RCT; open-label, randomized multicenter phase II study | Unresectable locally advanced esophageal cancer | Radiochemotherapy with 5FU, cisplatin, 59.4 Gy/6.5 weeks plus/minus cetuximab | Germany | NM | N = 20, NM | NM | 24 | Response rates | Response, PFS and survival, disease control rate |
Zhang et al. (2014) | RCT; unicentre, randomised, parallel, two-arm trial | Localized esophageal cancer | Routine chemotherapy, routine chemotherapy plus cetuximab | China | 2008–2009 | N = 80, 46–79 years old | 52/28 | 36 | Overall survival | Overall survival, recurrence rate, transfer rate | |
Crosby et al. (2017) [21] | RCT; multicentre, randomised, open-label, parallel, two-arm, phase 2/3 trial | Localized esophageal squamous cell cancer and adenocarcinomas | CRT only, CRT plus cetuximab | UK | 2008–2012 | N = 258, 67 (35.7–84.1) years old | 145/113 | 60 | Overall survival | Compliance, toxicities, PFS and survival, causes of death | |
Ruhstaller et al. (2017) | RCT; multicentre, randomized, open-label phase III trial | Locally advanced but resectable ESCC and thoracic esophagus adenocarcinomas | Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy followed by chemoradiation (45 Gy, docetaxel 20 mg/m2 and cisplatin 25 mg/m2, weekly for 5 weeks) and surgery with and without cetuximab | Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France | 2010–2013 | N = 300, 61 (53–68) years old | 263/37 | 72 | PFS | Compliance, surgery and pathological remission rate, efficacy, safety | |
Suntharalingam et al. (2017) [28] | RCT; multicentre, randomized, phase III trial | locally advanced ESCC or adenocarcinoma of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction | RT (daily radiation of 50.4 Gy/1.8 Gy fractions) + Chemo, RT + Chemo + cetuximab | USA | 2008–2013 | N = 328, 64 (57–71) years old | 276/52 | 36 | Overall survival | Tolerance and toxic effects, survival, response, local failure | |
Metastatic esophageal cancer | Lorenzen et al. (2009) [14] | RCT; multicenter, open-label, noncomparative randomized phase II study | Nonresectable, advanced ESCC, including metastatic disease | CF, CET-CF | Germany | 2004–2006 | N = 62, 61 (40–76) years old | 52/10 | 24 | The confirmed objective response rate | Response, safety and tolerability, PFS and survival |
Chen et al. (2014) [22] | RCT; unicentre, randomised, parallel, two-arm trial | Advanced esophageal cancer, incuding metastatic disease | CRT only, CRT plus cetuximab | China | 2011–2012 | N = 40, 57.3 ± 5.3 years old | 26/14 | 12 | PFS | Response, safety, PFS and survival | |
Feng et al. (2017) [25] | RCT; unicentre, randomised, parallel, two-arm trial | Thoracic esophageal carcinoma with lymph node metastasis | Radiotherapy (2.5–3.5 Gy/time, 4–5 times/week, 65–70 Gy in total) plus chemotherapy, radiotherapy plus cinobufotalin and cetuximab | China | 2011–2013 | N = 78, 59.35 ± 6.08 years old | 43/35 | 36 | Overall survival | Response, overall survival, quality of life, serum indicators | |
Yang et al. (2017) [26] | RCT; unicentre, randomised, two-arm trial | Advanced esophageal cancer, incuding metastatic disease | Chemotherapy, chemotherapy plus cetuximab | China | 2016–2017 | N = 100, 37–77 years old | 61/39 | 1 | Response rates | Response, toxic effects | |
Lu et al. (2017) [16] | RCT; unicentre, randomised, parallel, two-arm trial | Advanced esophageal cancer, incuding metastatic disease | Chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5FU, Chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5FU plus cetuximab | China | 2013–2015 | N = 80, 45–80 years old | 51/29 | 12 | Overall survival | CEA, SCC, response, overall survival |