Thoracic perfusion of recombinant human endostatin (Endostar) combined with chemotherapeutic agents versus chemotherapeutic agents alone for treating malignant pleural effusions: a systematic evaluation and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Endostar is a new endogenous angiogenic inhibitor with implicated anti-tumor activity. This study was to investigate whether thoracic perfusion of Endostar could be used to control malignant pleural effusions (MPE). METHODS: We searched the databases of MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE, Goggle, Cochrance Library and CNKI to select the studies regarding the efficacy of Endostar to treat MPE. A total of 13 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with 1066 patients were included. RESULTS: The overall response rate (ORR) (P < 0.001; odds ratio = 3.58) and disease control rate (DCR) (P < 0.001; odds ratio = 2.97) of Endostar combined with chemotherapeutic agents were significantly higher than those of chemotherapeutic agents alone. In addition, Endostar combined treatment remarkably promoted quality of life (QOL) of patients (P < 0.001; odds ratio = 3.04) compared with that of chemotherapeutic agents alone. Moreover, Endostar combined treatment did not have an impact on the incidence of adverse reactions (AEs) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of Endostar combined chemotherapeutic agents was superior to chemotherapeutic agents alone through thoracic perfusion in treating MPE, which indicated that Endostar could be an effective agent for controlling MPE.