Safety and efficacy of addition of VEGFR and EGFR-family small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors to cytotoxic chemotherapy in solid cancers: A meta-analysis.

Abstract

415 Background: The approach of combining cytotoxic chemotherapy with small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has been explored in a large number of randomized trials, in a diverse range of tumor. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this therapeutic approach. Methods: PubMed and the ASCO databases were searched up to March 2013. Eligible studies included randomized trials in which the FDA approved TKI in combination with chemotherapy was compared with chemotherapy alone in patients with any type of solid cancer. The endpoints included safety [fatal adverse events (FAEs), treatment discontinuation, any severe (grade 3 or 4) adverse events (AEs), and individual severe AEs] and efficacy [progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS)]. The pooled relative risk (RR) or hazard ratio (HR), with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Results: A total of 16,011 patients from 43 trials were included. Among the 43 trials, ten met their primary efficacy endpoints. Among the 21 phase III trials, two led to Food and Drug Administration approval for the combination. Compared with chemotherapy alone, the addition of a TKI significantly increased the risk of FAEs (RR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.32-2.01), treatment discontinuation (RR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.58-2.06), and any severe AE (RR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.16-1.36). Compared with chemotherapy alone, the addition of a TKI was associated with a significant improvement in PFS (HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.76-0.89), but not OS (HR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.95-1.03). Chemotherapy plus TKI was also associated with a significant higher risk of seven of the 11 evaluated individual AEs: neutropenia (RR, 1.18; P =.004), thrombocytopenia (RR, 1.70; P <.001), febrile neutropenia (RR, 1.48; P <.001), hypertension (RR, 3.01; P <.001), skin toxicities (RR, 6.38; P <.001), diarrhea (RR, 2.57; P =.002) and fatigue (RR, 1.35; P <.001). Conclusions: The addition of a VEGFR or EGFR-family TKI to chemotherapy in solid cancers increases the risk of severe toxicities and treatment discontinuations. These findings might explain the general lack of a survival benefit with these regimens.