Objective To overview the systematic reviews of the effectiveness and safety of the charged-particle radiation therapy. Methods Databases including CNKI, WanFang Data, PubMed, and EMbase were electronically searched from January 2007 to November 2020. Two investigators independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the quality of the included studies by AMSTAR 2, and then reported results through a narrative synthesis of outcomes. Results A total of 6 systematic reviews were identified. One systematic review demonstrated moderate quality and the other 5 demonstrated critically low quality. The charged-particle radiation therapy had a wide range of applications. Its effectiveness was superior to traditional radiotherapy methods on various types of tumors in various regions of the body, with acceptable side effects. Specifically, the effectiveness and safety outcomes of carbon ion radiotherapy was superior to those of proton radiotherapy. Conclusions Current evidence shows that the charged-particle radiation therapy has superior effectiveness and limited toxicity, though the studies are of relatively low quality. High quality and larger sample size researches are required in the future.
The widespread application of composite endpoints in clinical research has afforded researchers a more comprehensive perspective, enabling a deeper understanding of intricate medical issues. Simultaneously, it effectively enhances the efficiency and efficacy of studies, thereby reducing the overall economic costs of research. A profound comprehension of the strengths and limitations of composite endpoints is crucial for their correct application and the accurate interpretation of results. This paper aims to introduce the recent advancements in the application of composite endpoints in clinical trials, discussing their advantages and limitations, and providing practical recommendations for their use. The intention is to offer guidance to researchers in understanding and managing composite endpoints effectively.