Meta-analysis for the efficacy of S-1-based regimens as the first-line treatment in Asian chemotherapy-naive patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

AIM: We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety for S-1-based regimens as the first-line treatment in Asian chemotherapy-naive patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

PATIENTS & METHODS: Eligible randomized clinical trials (RCTs) were included, of which data were extracted by inclusion criteria and exclusion one. Odds ratio and hazard ratio (HR) of outcomes including objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and adverse effects (AEs) were explored for the final analysis.

RESULTS: Twenty-one RCTs including 3263 patients were fit into the analysis. Pooled HR for PFS was 1.01 (95% CI: 0.92-1.10; p = 0.88), the pooled HR for OS was 0.95 (95% CI: 0.85-1.06; p = 0.33) and the pooled odds ratio for ORR was 0.74 (95% CI: 0.61-0.90; p = 0.003). S-1-based regimens showed milder AEs in high-grade nausea/vomit, anorexia, leukopenia, neutropenia and febrile neutropenia (all p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The present study has revealed that S-1-based regimens are accompanied by the similar efficacy and slighter AEs compared with standard regimens as the first-line treatment in Asian chemotherapy-naive patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.