Objective To assess the effectiveness and safety of thalidomide for treating multiple myeloma in China. Methods Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of thalidomide for multiple myeloma were collected from CNKI (1979 to 2008), CBMdisc (1979 to 2008), and VIP (1989 to 2008) databases. Other relevant journals were also handsearched. The methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated, and data analyses were performed using the Cochrane Collaboration’s software RevMan 4.3. Results A total of 9 RCTs involving 324 patients were included. As for the total effective rate and complete remission rate, significant differences were found between thalidomide + MP vs. MP alone (RR=1.34, 95%CI 1.05 to 1.70; RR=1.77, 95%CI 1.26 to 2.49) and thalidomide + VAD vs. VAD alone (RR=1.45, 95%CI 1.20 to 1.75; RR=1.73, 95%CI 1.25 to 2.39). Conclusion According to the domestic evidence, treatment for multiple myeloma with thalidomide can improve the total effective rate and the complete remission rate. However, more high–quality, large-sample, randomized, double-blind, controlled trials are required.
Objective To assess the effectiveness and safety of autologous stem cell transplantation after high-dose chemotherapy in first-line treatment of follicular lymphoma. Method Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of autologous stem cell transplantation after high-dose chemotherapy in first-line treatment of follicular lymphoma were collected from MEDLINE (1990-2009), EMBASE (1990-2009), OVID (1990-2009), and the Cochrane Library (Issue 2, 2009), and the proceedings of ASH were searched manually. The methodological quality of included studies was evaluated, and data analysis was performed with software STATA 10.0 and RevMan 4.3. Result A total of 4 RCTs involving 941 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that overall survival rate (HR=0.82, 95%CI 0.49 to 1.15), event-free survival rate (HR=0.35, 95%CI 0.24 to 0.47), total remission rate (RR=0.35, 95%CI 0.96 to 1.30), and secondary malignant tumor incidence rate (RR=1.68, 95%CI 0.47 to 6.07). Conclusion According to the present evidences, autologous stem cell transplantation after high-dose chemotherapy can not improve overall survival rate and total remission rate, but can improve event-free survival rate, and do not increase secondary malignant tumor incidence rate. However, more high-quality, multiple-center, large-sample randomized controlled trials are required.