Statistical analysis
The data analysis was performed using STATA 17.0 software. We merged the
ratios of dichotomous data when data were presented as proportions (ORR,
DCR, incidence of AEs), and merged the mean of continuous variables when
data were presented as the mean with 95% CIs (OS, PFS). The
heterogeneity among studies was calculated using Cochrane’s Q and
I2 statistics. Significant heterogeneity was deemed to
exist when p<0.05 or I2>50%
and a random-effects model was used for analysis, otherwise, a
fixed-effects model was used.
In addition, we conducted sensitivity analysis to assess the stability
and reliability of the pooled results, and the publication bias was also
assessed for each outcome by Egger’s regression test.