Scolaris Content Display Scolaris Content Display

Regímenes con platino para el cáncer de mama metastásico

Contraer todo Desplegar todo

Antecedentes

En los estudios se han informado tasas altas de respuesta tumoral a los regímenes con platino en el tratamiento de las mujeres con cáncer de mama metastásico. La mayoría de estos estudios se realizaron antes de la era del "subtipo intrínseco", y no se centraron específicamente en los cánceres de mama triple negativos metastásicos (CMTNm).

Objetivos

Identificar y revisar la evidencia de los ensayos aleatorizados que compararon los regímenes de quimioterapia con platino con los regímenes sin platino en el tratamiento de las mujeres con cáncer de mama metastásico.

Métodos de búsqueda

Para esta actualización de la revisión se realizaron búsquedas en el Registro especializado del Grupo Cochrane de Cáncer de mama (Cochrane Breast Cancer Group), CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, la Plataforma de registros internacionales de ensayos clínicos de la Organización Mundial de la Salud y en ClinicalTrials.gov el 28 de mayo de 2015. Se identificaron otros estudios potencialmente pertinentes a partir de la búsqueda manual en las referencias de ensayos, revisiones sistemáticas y metanálisis anteriores. Antes de esta actualización de la revisión, la búsqueda más reciente de estudios se realizó en mayo de 2003 para la revisión original de 2004.

Criterios de selección

Ensayos aleatorizados que compararon regímenes de quimioterapia con platino con quimioterapia sin platino en mujeres con cáncer de mama metastásico.

Obtención y análisis de los datos

Al menos dos autores de la revisión, de forma independiente, evaluaron la elegibilidad y la calidad de los estudios y extrajeron todos los datos pertinentes de cada uno de ellos. Cuando fue posible, se obtuvieron los cocientes de riesgos instantáneos (CRI) para los desenlaces de tiempo transcurrido hasta el evento, y se utilizaron modelos de efectos fijos para los metanálisis. Se analizaron las tasas objetivas de respuesta tumoral (TORT) y los efectos tóxicos como desenlaces binarios (dicotómicos), y se utilizaron las razones de riesgos (RR) como medidas de los efectos. Se extrajeron datos sobre la calidad de vida cuando estuvieron disponibles. Se utilizó GRADE para calificar la calidad de la evidencia de los desenlaces de supervivencia y respuesta tumoral a nivel de subgrupos seleccionados y no seleccionados por el CMTNm, y de los desenlace de toxicidad basados en la combinación de datos de poblaciones seleccionadas y no seleccionadas.

Resultados principales

Esta actualización incluye 15 nuevas comparaciones de tratamientos elegibles de 12 estudios. En total, 28 comparaciones de tratamientos, en las que participaron 4418 mujeres de 24 estudios, se incluyen ahora en uno o más metanálisis. De las 28 comparaciones de tratamientos, 19 y 16 habían publicado o proporcionado datos extraíbles sobre el tiempo transcurrido hasta el evento en relación con la supervivencia general (SG) o la supervivencia sin progresión/tiempo transcurrido hasta la progresión (SSP/TTP), respectivamente. Las 28 comparaciones de tratamientos proporcionaron datos de las TORT que se pudieron incluir en los metanálisis. La mayoría de las mujeres reclutadas para los estudios no fueron seleccionadas sobre la base del estado del CMTNm.

En un subgrupo de tres comparaciones de tratamientos que evaluaron a mujeres con CMTNm, los regímenes con platino pueden haber proporcionado un efecto beneficioso en la supervivencia (CRI 0,75; IC del 95%: 0,57 a 1,00; evidencia de calidad baja). En mujeres no seleccionadas por subtipos intrínsecos como el CMTNm, hubo poco o ningún efecto en la supervivencia (CRI 1,01; IC del 95%: 0,92 a 1,12; evidencia de calidad alta). Este efecto fue similar al del análisis combinado de los datos de supervivencia de ambas poblaciones (CRI 0,98; IC del 95%: 0,89 a 1,07; I2 = 39%; 1868 muertes; 2922 mujeres; 19 ensayos). La diferencia en los efectos del tratamiento entre las mujeres con CMTNm comparadas con las mujeres no seleccionadas fue de significación estadística marginal (p = 0,05).

Los datos de tres comparaciones de tratamientos con participantes con CMTNm mostraron que los regímenes con platino pueden mejorar la SSP/TTP (CRI 0,59; IC del 95%: 0,49 a 0,72; evidencia de calidad baja). Trece comparaciones de tratamientos en participantes con metástasis, no seleccionadas, mostraron que probablemente hubo un pequeño efecto beneficioso en la SSP/TTP en las que recibieron platino, aunque el intervalo de confianza incluyó ninguna diferencia (CRI 0,92; IC del 95%: 0,84 a 1,01; evidencia de calidad moderada). El análisis combinado de los datos de 1772 mujeres que presentaron progresión o murieron de las 2136 mujeres seleccionadas o no por el CMTNm, indicó que los regímenes con platino mejoraron la SSP/TTP (CRI 0,85; IC del 95%: 0,78 a 0,93). Hubo una marcada evidencia de heterogeneidad (p < 0,0004; I2 = 63%). El mayor efecto beneficioso del tratamiento en las mujeres con CMTNm en comparación con las mujeres no seleccionadas fue estadísticamente significativo (p < 0,0001).

Hubo evidencia de calidad baja de una mejor respuesta tumoral en los subgrupos de mujeres con CMTNm y en los de mujeres no seleccionadas (RR 1,33; IC del 95%: 1,13 a 1,56; RR 1,11; IC del 95%: 1,04 a 1,19, respectivamente). El análisis combinado de ambas poblaciones se acercó más al efecto en las mujeres no seleccionadas (RR 1,15; IC del 95%: 1,08 a 1,22; 4130 mujeres). Hubo evidencia considerable de heterogeneidad (p < 0,0001; I2 = 64%), lo que puede reflejar las diferencias entre los estudios y las dificultades generales para evaluar la respuesta, así como las distintas eficacias de los comparadores.

En comparación con las mujeres que recibieron regímenes sin platino: las tasas de náuseas/vómitos grado 3 y 4 fueron probablemente más altas entre las mujeres que recibieron cisplatino (RR 2,65; IC del 95%: 2,10 a 3,34; 1731 mujeres; evidencia de calidad moderada), pero el efecto de los regímenes con carboplatino fue menos claro (RR 0,77; IC del 95%: 0,47 a 1,26; 1441 mujeres; evidencia de calidad moderada); las tasas de anemia grado 3 y 4 fueron más altas entre las mujeres que recibieron regímenes con cisplatino (RR 3,72; IC del 95%: 2,36 a 5,88; 1644 mujeres; evidencia de calidad alta) y con carboplatino (RR 1,72; IC del 95%: 1,10 a 2,70; 1441 mujeres; evidencia de calidad alta); las tasas de alopecia grado 3 y 4 (RR 1,41; IC del 95%: 1,26 a 1,58; 1452 mujeres; evidencia de calidad alta) y la leucopenia (RR 1,38; IC del 95%: 1,21 a 1,57; 3176 mujeres; evidencia de calidad moderada) fueron mayores entre las mujeres que recibieron regímenes con platino (independientemente del agente de platino).

Conclusiones de los autores

En las mujeres con cáncer de mama metastásico que no presentan la enfermedad triple negativa, hay evidencia de calidad alta de que los regímenes con platino tienen pocos o ningún efecto beneficioso en la supervivencia y un exceso de toxicidad. Hay evidencia preliminar de calidad baja de un efecto beneficioso moderado en la supervivencia de los regímenes con platino en las mujeres con CMTNm. Se necesitan más ensayos aleatorizados de regímenes con platino en esta subpoblación de mujeres con cáncer de mama metastásico.

PICO

Population
Intervention
Comparison
Outcome

El uso y la enseñanza del modelo PICO están muy extendidos en el ámbito de la atención sanitaria basada en la evidencia para formular preguntas y estrategias de búsqueda y para caracterizar estudios o metanálisis clínicos. PICO son las siglas en inglés de cuatro posibles componentes de una pregunta de investigación: paciente, población o problema; intervención; comparación; desenlace (outcome).

Para saber más sobre el uso del modelo PICO, puede consultar el Manual Cochrane.

Resumen en términos sencillos

Regímenes con platino para el cáncer de mama metastásico

¿Cuál es el tema? El cáncer de mama metastásico se produce cuando el cáncer se ha extendido a otras áreas del cuerpo más allá de la mama y a los ganglios linfáticos cercanos. Aunque el cáncer de mama metastásico no suele ser curable, se acepta ampliamente que las mujeres con enfermedad metastásica deben recibir algún tipo de quimioterapia para ayudar a aliviar la gravedad de los síntomas de la enfermedad y, con suerte, prolongar el tiempo de supervivencia. Se sabe que la quimioterapia con platino es eficaz para tratar varios tipos de cáncer, incluidos los de pulmón, testículos, cabeza y cuello, vejiga y ovarios, pero también se sabe que causa más efectos adversos (como náuseas y vómitos, pérdida de cabello, anemia, daños renales y leucopenia [bajo nivel de glóbulos blancos]) que otras opciones de quimioterapia. Los dos agentes de platino más utilizados para tratar el cáncer de mama metastásico son el carboplatino y el cisplatino.

En la versión original de esta revisión (2004) se concluyó que la quimioterapia con platino no aumentaba el tiempo de supervivencia de las mujeres tratadas por cáncer de mama metastásico. Sin embargo, desde entonces los investigadores han descubierto que hay una variedad de subtipos de cáncer de mama que pueden responder de manera diferente a los distintos tipos de quimioterapia. Uno de estos subtipos (cáncer de mama triple negativo [CMTN]) constituye aproximadamente del 12 al 17% de los cánceres de mama y se asocia con una supervivencia más corta y una mayor probabilidad de que el cáncer regrese. Algunos investigadores han especulado que la quimioterapia con platino podría ser más eficaz en el tratamiento del CMTN metastásico (CMTNm) que otras opciones de quimioterapia.

¿Por qué es importante este tema? Hay al menos dos razones por las que es importante actualizar la evidencia sobre este tema. En primer lugar, es importante evaluar si las conclusiones de la revisión de 2004 (basadas en 12 estudios antiguos) son representativas de los 24 estudios que se han publicado o que han proporcionado resultados hasta 2015. En segundo lugar, es importante evaluar si la quimioterapia que contiene platino aumenta la supervivencia de las mujeres con CMTNm más que otras opciones de quimioterapia.

Se quería saber si los tratamientos con quimioterapia que contienen un agente de platino son más o menos eficaces para tratar a las mujeres con cáncer de mama metastásico que los tratamientos con quimioterapia que no contienen un agente de platino. También se hizo la misma pregunta, pero centrándose en las mujeres con CMTNm.

Se encontraron 24 estudios con 4418 mujeres. La evidencia está actualizada hasta mayo de 2015. Cinco de los 24 estudios evaluaron específicamente a mujeres con CMTNm, mientras que los otros 19 estudios evaluaron a mujeres con cáncer de mama metastásico en general (principalmente mujeres sin CMTNm). Esta revisión encontró que, en comparación con la quimioterapia sin platino, la quimioterapia con platino no aumentó el tiempo de supervivencia en ningún grado importante en las mujeres con cáncer de mama metastásico en general (principalmente las mujeres sin CMTNm). Se consideró que la calidad de la evidencia de este desenlace fue alta, lo que significa que existe confianza en los resultados. Sin embargo, en el caso de las mujeres con CMTNm, esta revisión encontró que la quimioterapia con platino puede aumentar el tiempo de supervivencia con respecto a la quimioterapia sin platino, pero la calidad de la evidencia para este desenlace es baja en este momento (en gran parte debido al escaso número de estudios que han evaluado el CMTNm). Esta revisión también encontró que la quimioterapia con platino redujo el número de recidivas de cáncer de mama en comparación con la quimioterapia sin platino en las mujeres con CMTNm; sin embargo, estos hallazgos también provienen actualmente de evidencia de calidad baja. No hubo diferencias en el número de recidivas de cáncer de mama en las mujeres que recibieron quimioterapia con o sin platino para el cáncer de mama metastásico en general. La quimioterapia con platino tuvo más probabilidades de reducir los tumores en comparación con la quimioterapia sin platino, pero este resultado se debe considerar con cautela.

En comparación con las mujeres que reciben quimioterapia sin platino, las mujeres que reciben quimioterapia con platino presentan mayores tasas de náuseas y vómitos, anemia, leucopenia y pérdida de cabello.

Esto significa que es difícil justificar el uso de la quimioterapia que contiene platino para el tratamiento del cáncer de mama metastásico que no es CMTNm, debido a que habitualmente se dispone de una quimioterapia igualmente eficaz, pero menos tóxica. La quimioterapia con platino puede proporcionar a las participantes con CMTNm un efecto beneficioso en la supervivencia de magnitud suficiente para justificar su uso, pero la calidad de la evidencia es baja en este momento. Es necesario realizar más estudios antes de establecer una conclusión más definitiva.

Authors' conclusions

Implications for practice

In view of the excess toxicity and limited survival benefits from platinum‐based regimens, it is difficult to justify their use over commonly‐available less toxic active agents as first‐line treatment for metastatic patients without mTNBC. On the other hand, this review update found preliminary low‐quality evidence of a moderate survival benefit for women with mTNBC. Consequently, although the evidence may be premature to recommend widespread use of platinum‐based regimens for mTNBC patients, some women and clinicians may consider platinum‐based regimens worth trying. While evidence from this review suggested that carboplatin was generally associated with less toxicity than cisplatin, it is not yet clear whether the possible benefits for women with mTNBC are related to the type of platinum agent.

Implications for research

It seems unlikely that the inclusion of additional randomised trials could alter our conclusion that platinum‐containing regimens offer little or no survival benefit for women with metastatic breast cancer that is not confirmed to be mTNBC. In contrast, however, our finding of a moderate survival benefit for women with mTNBC was based on low‐quality evidence from only three trials; hence, additional randomised trials are necessary to confirm this finding. It is also worth noting that Tutt 2014 did not find an OS, PFS or OTRR advantage for women with mTNBC receiving carboplatin (vs docetaxel). However, in subgroup analysis restricted to 43 BRCA1/2 positive participants, Tutt 2014 found carboplatin was associated with significantly better OTRRs, perhaps suggesting a useful line of future research.

Summary of findings

Open in table viewer
Summary of findings for the main comparison. Platinum‐containing regimens for women with metastatic breast cancer unselected for triple‐negative disease

Platinum compared to non‐platinum chemotherapy regimens for women with metastatic breast cancer unselected for triple‐negative disease

Patient or population: women with metastatic breast cancer unselected for triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC)
Setting: hospital
Intervention: platinum
Comparison: non‐platinum chemotherapy regimens

Outcomes

Anticipated absolute effects* (95% CI)

Relative effect
(95% CI)

No. of participants (treatment‐ comparisons)

Quality of the evidence
(GRADE)

Comments

Risk with non‐platinum chemotherapy regimens

Risk with platinum

Overall survival ‐ trials of metastatic breast cancer participants unselected for TNBC

1‐year risk of death

HR 1.01
(0.92 to 1.12)

2531 (16)

⊕⊕⊕⊕
HIGH3

Heterogeneity: P = 0.09, I2=34%

310 per 1,000 1

313 per 1,000
(289 to 340)2

2‐year risk of death

540 per 1,000 1

543 per 1,000
(510 to 581)2

Progression‐free survival/time to progression (randomised participants) ‐ trials of metastatic breast cancer participants unselected for TNBC

1‐year risk of progression or death

HR 0.92
(0.84 to 1.01)

1745 (13)

⊕⊕⊕⊝
MODERATE4

Heterogeneity: P = 0.08, I2=38%

737 per 1,000 1

707 per 1,000
(674 to 740)2

2‐year risk of progression or death

891 per 1,000 1

869 per 1,000
(844 to 893)2

Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants) ‐ trials of metastatic breast cancer participants unselected for TNBC

493 per 1,000 5

547 per 1,000
(512 to 586)

RR 1.11
(1.04 to 1.19)

3252 (23)

⊕⊕⊝⊝
LOW4,6

Heterogeneity: P = 0.0002, I2=58%

*The risk in the intervention group (and its 95% confidence interval) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI).

CI: Confidence interval; RR: Risk ratio; HR: Hazard ratio;

GRADE Working Group grades of evidence
High quality: We are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect
Moderate quality: We are moderately confident in the effect estimate: The true effect is likely to be close to the estimate of the effect, but there is a possibility that it is substantially different
Low quality: Our confidence in the effect estimate is limited: The true effect may be substantially different from the estimate of the effect
Very low quality: We have very little confidence in the effect estimate: The true effect is likely to be substantially different from the estimate of effect

1 Estimated from the average of non‐platinum group Kaplan‐Meier probabilities from the three highest weighted non‐TNBC treatment‐comparisons for this outcome

2 Estimated as 1000*(1‐S(t)HR) where S(t) is the estimated probability of survival for non‐platinum participants and HR is the pooled hazard ratio (Davies 1998)

3 Quality of evidence for OS was not downgraded for blinding because this outcome is unlikely to be affected by non‐blinding.

4 Downgraded quality of evidence one level for 'indirectness' because this outcome is a surrogate endpoint of questionable validity for assessing the more important outcome of OS in the context of metastatic breast cancer (Burzykowski 2008)

5 Estimated from all 23 non‐TNBC treatment‐comparisons in the review

6 Downgraded quality of evidence one level for 'inconsistency' because there was substantial evidence of heterogeneity across studies (P < 0.05)

Open in table viewer
Summary of findings 2. Platinum‐containing regimens for women with metastatic triple‐negative breast cancer

Platinum compared to non‐platinum chemotherapy regimens for women with metastatic triple‐negative breast cancer

Patient or population: women with metastatic triple‐negative breast cancer (mTNBC)
Setting: hospital
Intervention: platinum
Comparison: non‐platinum chemotherapy regimens

Outcomes

Anticipated absolute effects* (95% CI)

Relative effect
(95% CI)

No. of participants (treatment‐ comparisons)

Quality of the evidence
(GRADE)

Comments

Risk with non‐platinum chemotherapy regimens

Risk with platinum

Overall survival ‐ trials of mTNBC participants

1‐year risk of death

HR 0.75
(0.57 to 1.00)

391 (3)

⊕⊕⊝⊝
LOW3,4,5

Heterogeneity: P = 0.23, I2 = 32%

485 per 1,000 1

392 per 1,000
(315 to 485)2

2‐year risk of death

655 per 1,000 1

550 per 1,000
(455 to 655)2

Progression‐free survival/time to progression (randomised participants) ‐ trials of mTNBC participants

1‐year risk of death

HR 0.59
(0.49 to 0.72)

391 (3)

⊕⊕⊝⊝
LOW4,6

Heterogeneity: P = 0.07, I2 = 67%

894 per 1,000 1

733 per 1,000
(667 to 801)2

2‐year risk of death

987 per 1,000 1

922 per 1,000
(879 to 955)2

Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants) ‐ trials of mTNBC participants

354 per 1,0007

470 per 1,000
(400 to 552)

RR 1.33
(1.13 to 1.56)

878 (5)

⊕⊕⊝⊝
LOW6,8

Heterogeneity: P = 0.0010, I2 = 78%

*The risk in the intervention group (and its 95% confidence interval) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI).

CI: Confidence interval; RR: Risk ratio; HR: Hazard ratio;

GRADE Working Group grades of evidence
High quality: We are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect
Moderate quality: We are moderately confident in the effect estimate: The true effect is likely to be close to the estimate of the effect, but there is a possibility that it is substantially different
Low quality: Our confidence in the effect estimate is limited: The true effect may be substantially different from the estimate of the effect
Very low quality: We have very little confidence in the effect estimate: The true effect is likely to be substantially different from the estimate of effect

1 Estimated from the average of non‐platinum group Kaplan‐Meier probabilities from the three TNBC treatment‐comparisons contributing data for pooling on this outcome

2 Estimated as 1000*(1‐S(t)HR) where S(t) is the estimated probability of survival for non‐platinum participants and HR is the pooled hazard ratio (Davies 1998)

3 Downgraded quality of evidence one level for 'imprecision' because the confidence interval for the pooled estimate is wide and crosses or nearly crosses unity

4 Downgraded quality of evidence one level for 'suspected publication bias' because Tutt 2014 is a large study with 376 participants but has so far only reported median OS/PFS times. As a consequence, the study did not contribute to the pooled HR estimates for OS or PFS/TTP. The reported median OS/PFS times in Tutt 2014 were similar between platinum and non‐platinum regimens. Hence, it seems likely that if HRs from Tutt 2014 were able to be included in pooled HR estimates, these pooled estimates would be considerably closer to the null.

5 Quality of evidence for OS was not downgraded for blinding because this outcome is unlikely to be affected by non‐blinding.

6 Downgraded quality of evidence one level for 'indirectness' because this outcome is a surrogate endpoint of questionable validity for assessing the more important outcome of OS in the context of metastatic breast cancer (Burzykowski 2008)

7Estimated from all five TNBC treatment‐comparisons in the review

8 Downgraded quality of evidence one level for 'inconsistency' because there was substantial evidence of heterogeneity across studies (P < 0.05)

Open in table viewer
Summary of findings 3. Platinum‐containing regimens and toxicity profile

Platinum compared to non‐platinum chemotherapy regimens for nausea/vomiting, anaemia, hair loss and leukopenia

Patient or population: women with metastatic breast cancer
Setting: hospital
Intervention: platinum
Comparison: non‐platinum chemotherapy regimens

Outcomes

Anticipated absolute effects* (95% CI)

Relative effect
(95% CI)

No. of participants (treatment‐ comparisons)

Quality of the evidence
(GRADE)

Comments

Risk with non‐platinum chemotherapy regimens

Risk with platinum

Nausea/vomiting* grade 3 or 4 (safety population) by type of platinum agent in platinum regimen

Carboplatin

(RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.47 to 1.26)

1441 (7)

⊕⊕⊕⊝
MODERATE2

Test for carboplatin/cisplatin subgroup difference: P < 0.0001

Heterogeneity among carboplatin studies: P = 0.30, I2 = 17%

Heterogeneity among cisplatin studies: P = 0.010, I2 = 32%

80 per 1,000 1

62 per 1,000
(59 to 101)

Cisplatin

(RR 2.65, 95% CI 2.10 to 3.34)

1747 (14)

⊕⊕⊕⊝
MODERATE3

80 per 1,000 1

210 per 1,000
(167 to 266)

Anaemia grade 3 or 4 (safety population) by type of platinum agent in platinum regimen

Carboplatin

(RR 1.72, 95% CI 1.10 to 2.70)

1441 (7)

⊕⊕⊕⊕
HIGH

Test for carboplatin/cisplatin subgroup difference: P = 0.02

Heterogeneity among carboplatin studies: P = 0.67, I2 = 0%

Heterogeneity among cisplatin studies: P = 0.50, I2 = 0%

33 per 1,000 1

57 per 1,000
(36 to 89)

Cisplatin

(RR 3.72, 95% CI 2.36 to 5.88)

1644 (13)

⊕⊕⊕⊕

HIGH

33 per 1,000 1

123 per 1,000
(78 to 194)

Hair loss grade 3 or 4 (safety population)

Carboplatin or cisplatin

(RR 1.41, 95% CI 1.26 to 1.58)

1452 (13)

⊕⊕⊕⊕
HIGH

Test for carboplatin/cisplatin subgroup difference: P = 0.23

Heterogeneity: P = 0.10, I2 = 40%

264 per 1,000 1

372 per 1,000
(333 to 417)

Leukopenia** grade 3 or 4 (safety population)

Carboplatin or cisplatin

(RR 1.38, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.57)

3176 (22)

⊕⊕⊕⊝
MODERATE3

Test for carboplatin/cisplatin subgroup difference: P = 0.22

Heterogeneity: P = 0.0002, I2 = 60%

179 per 1,000 1

247 per 1,000 (217 to 281)

*The risk in the intervention group (and its 95% confidence interval) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI).

CI: Confidence interval; RR: Risk ratio; HR: Hazard ratio;

GRADE Working Group grades of evidence
High quality: We are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect
Moderate quality: We are moderately confident in the effect estimate: The true effect is likely to be close to the estimate of the effect, but there is a possibility that it is substantially different
Low quality: Our confidence in the effect estimate is limited: The true effect may be substantially different from the estimate of the effect
Very low quality: We have very little confidence in the effect estimate: The true effect is likely to be substantially different from the estimate of effect

1 Estimated from all treatment‐comparisons (cisplatin and carboplatin) contributing data for pooling for this outcome

2 Downgraded quality of evidence one level for 'imprecision' because the confidence interval for the pooled estimate is wide and does not rule out 'no effect'

3 Downgraded quality of evidence one level for 'inconsistency' because there was substantial evidence of heterogeneity across studies (P < 0.05)

*data on vomiting was included if data on nausea/vomiting was reported separately

**data on neutropenia was included if data on leukopenia was not reported

Background

Description of the condition

Breast cancer is both the most common type of cancer in women and the most common cause of cancer death in women (Ferlay 2013). In 2012, there was an estimated 1.67 million estimated new cases and approximately 522,000 deaths from breast cancer worldwide, with an age standardised death rate (ASR) of 12.9 per 100,000 (Ferlay 2013). ASRs of 25 or greater were recorded that same year in Fiji (28.4), Bahamas (26.3), Nigeria (25.9), Former Yugoslav Republic (FYR) Macedonia (25.5) and Pakistan (25.2) (Ferlay 2013).

The stage of breast cancer at the time of diagnosis is an important indicator of prognosis. Once breast cancer becomes metastatic, it is not generally considered curable and most women with metastatic disease do not survive beyond five years from the time of their metastatic diagnosis (Clements 2012). Another important predictor of prognosis is the biological subtype of breast cancer. One of these subtypes — triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) — is characterised by a lack of expression of oestrogen and progesterone receptors (ER and PgR) and human epidermal receptor 2 (HER2). TNBC comprises approximately 12 to 17% of breast cancers and is associated with shorter survival and higher likelihood of recurrence (Foulkes 2010). The median survival time for women diagnosed with metastatic TNBC (mTNBC) is about one year from their metastatic diagnosis (Kassam 2009).

Although there is no evidence from randomised trials comparing chemotherapy with observation (no chemotherapy) in women with metastatic breast cancer, it is widely accepted that women with metastatic disease should receive some form of systemic therapy at some time during the course of their metastatic disease. Chemotherapy is considered by many to be the appropriate first treatment option for women with multiple sites of recurrence or where visceral disease is not easily treated by local modalities (Hayes 1995; Beslija 2009). Chemotherapy is also considered to be useful in women whose cancer is hormone refractory or is expected to be hormone resistant (Hortobagyi 1996).

Description of the intervention

Platinum compound, an alkylating agent, has been known to be active in metastatic breast cancer since clinical trials in the 1970s. However, it is more toxic and difficult to administer than other chemotherapy agents. The three most widely used platinum agents for treating breast cancer are cisplatin, carboplatin (both divalent complexes) and oxaliplatin (a tetravalent complex) (Sikov 2015). Cisplatin and carboplatin have demonstrated benefits in treating a number of cancer types including lung, testicular, head and neck, bladder and ovarian cancers. Oxaliplatin is often used to treat cisplatin‐ and carboplatin‐resistant tumours because it is commonly believed that cross‐resistance between oxaliplatin and cisplatin or carboplatin is incomplete (Mani 2002). More recent evidence suggests that the benefits of oxaliplatin may be due to its low toxicity and ability to be combined with other drugs rather than incomplete cross‐resistance with other platinum agents (Stordal 2007).

The use of oxaliplatin for treating breast cancers is much less common than the use of cisplatin or carboplatin, both in normal clinical practice and as an intervention in clinical trials (Sikov 2015). Cisplatin and carboplatin have been used and studied extensively as first‐line metastatic therapy in combination with other older pharmacological agents including 5‐fluorouracil and etoposide, and more recently with doxorubicin, epirubicin, vinorelbine, paclitaxel, docetaxel, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and gemcitabine. The potential benefits of cisplatin or carboplatin as monotherapy for metastatic breast cancer, rather than as combination therapy, are rarely studied in clinical trials.

Although platinum agents have been shown to be efficacious in the treatment of a number of cancer types, their use is often associated with a variety of side effects. The known side effects of platinum agents include nausea, vomiting, myelosuppression (thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, neutropenia and anaemia), peripheral neuropathy (symptoms include tingling in fingers and toes), nephrotoxicity, ototoxicities (hearing loss and tinnitus), hypomagnesaemia and anaphylaxis. Carboplatin is reported to be more tolerable than cisplatin with less nausea and vomiting, nephrotoxicity, ototoxicity and neurotoxicity, but worse myelosuppression, especially thrombocytopenia (Sikov 2015).

How the intervention might work

The exact mechanism of action of platinum agents is not known but deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) adducts are formed (Sikov 2015). These complexes are believed to inhibit DNA synthesis, replication and transcription by forming interstrand and intrastrand cross‐linking of DNA molecules. Interstrand cross‐links that remain intact can produce cell death, and it is this cytotoxic effect, when successful, that forms the mechanistic basis of action for cancer cell death by platinum agents (Noll 2006). For TNBC, it has been additionally hypothesised that a dysfunctional BRCA1 pathway in some TNBCs may make them more sensitive to platinum agents that selectively target cells deficient in homologous recombination DNA repair (Foulkes 2010).

Why it is important to do this review

There are a number of reasons for updating this review. First, this review was originally published in 2004 (Carrick 2004) and was based on 12 studies (13 treatment‐comparisons) identified from a May 2003 search of the literature. Although there have since been some updates to this review containing minor amendments, no new searches for relevant studies have been conducted since 2003. In the current review update, the number of included studies has increased from 12 in the original version of this review to 24 (28 treatment‐comparisons). This allows effects to be estimated with greater precision than before and provides an opportunity to conduct new subgroup analyses corresponding to emerging evidence and new hypotheses. Second, all 12 studies included in the original version of this review were conducted prior to the 'intrinsic subtype' era and thus did not specifically focus on TNBC (a term first mentioned in the medical literature in October 2006) (Foulkes 2010). Since 2009, however, five randomised control trials have published data specifically on the effects of platinum‐based regimens on survival, progression or tumour response in mTNBC participants; the inclusion of these five trials in this review update represents the first meta‐analysis of such trials. Third, some interest remains in the use of platinum agents for the treatment of women with metastatic breast cancer in general (i.e. unselected for intrinsic subtypes such as mTNBC) (Shamseddine 2012). This is notwithstanding the primary conclusion contained in the original version of this review that "...in view of the significant excess toxicity, lack of progression or survival benefit and the availability of less toxic active agents it is difficult to justify the use of platinum‐containing regimens, particularly as first‐line treatment for women with metastatic breast cancer in routine clinical practice."

Objectives

To identify and review the evidence from randomised trials comparing platinum‐containing chemotherapy regimens with regimens not containing platinum in the management of women with metastatic breast cancer.

Additional objectives of this review were to investigate whether or not women in selected subgroups of studies benefited more or less from platinum‐based chemotherapy. Some subgroup analyses included in this review update were conducted in the original version of this review, while others have been added in response to new hypotheses and the availability of new subgroups.

Methods

Criteria for considering studies for this review

Types of studies

Properly randomised controlled clinical trials (i.e. where the trial report asserts that the trial was randomised and there was no evidence to suggest otherwise).

Types of participants

Women with advanced (metastatic) breast cancer, either newly diagnosed or recurrent. Treatment‐comparisons that included both women with metastatic disease and women with loco‐regionally recurrent disease only were eligible for inclusion if it was possible to distinguish between the two groups (i.e. data were reported separately) or if women with isolated locoregional recurrence were less than 20% of the total group. There were no age restrictions.

In the protocol for this review, it was proposed that treatment‐comparisons would be included if the women randomised to receive chemotherapy, were to receive it as first‐line treatment (i.e. no previous chemotherapy given except as adjuvant therapy). As few treatment‐comparisons assessing first‐line treatment were identified for inclusion in the original version of this review, those meeting the remaining eligibility criteria but which involved participants who were not first‐line naive were included. This modification of the inclusion criteria was maintained for this review update, with subgroup analysis by treatment being performed (treatment‐comparisons with first‐line therapy for > 80% of participants vs other treatment lines).

Types of interventions

Interventions were any chemotherapy regimen containing a platinum agent (see Table 1 and Table 2). Comparators were any chemotherapy regimen without a platinum agent. Endocrine therapy may also have been given to participants if it was planned to be given to both treatment groups.

Studies may or may not have specified recommended treatment upon disease progression or initial treatment failure or both. This recommended treatment may have included cross‐over to the alternative treatment arm of the treatment‐comparison.

Open in table viewer
Table 1. Platinum agents

Generic name

Other names

Carboplatin

Blastocarb, Carboplat, Carboplatin Hexal, Carboplatino, Carbosin, Carbosol, Carbotec, CBDCA, Displata, Ercar, Nealorin, Novoplatinum, Paraplat, Paraplatin AQ, Paraplatin, Paraplatine, Platinwas, Ribocarbo

Cisplatin

Abiplatin, Blastolem, Briplatin,CACP, CDDP, cis‐DDP, cis‐diamminedichloridoplatinum, cis‐diamminedichloro platinum (II), cis‐diamminedichloroplatinum, Cis‐dichloroammine Platinum (II), Cismaplat, Cisplatina, cis‐platinous diamine dichloride, cis‐platinum II diamine dichloride, cis‐platinum II, cis‐platinum, Cisplatyl, Citoplatino, Citosin, CPDD, Cysplatyna, DDP, DDP, Lederplatin, Metaplatin, Neoplatin, PDD, Peyrone's Chloride, Peyrone's Salt, Placis, Platamine, Platiblastin, Platiblastin‐S, Platinex, Platinol‐ AQ, Platinol, Platinol‐AQ VHA Plus, Platinol‐AQ, Platinoxan, platinum diamminodichloride, Platiran, Platistin, Platosin

Oxaliplatin

Ai Heng, Aiheng, diaminocyclohexane oxalatoplatinum, oxalatoplatin, oxalatoplatinum, oxaliplatine, Eloxatin, Dacotin, Dacplat, Eloxatine, 1‐OHP, L‐OHP, oxaliplatin medac

Open in table viewer
Table 2. Chemotherapeutic Agents (adapted from Table 1.1 in The Chemotherapy Source Book)

Type of Agent

Action

Includes

Agents that damage the DNA template

by alkylation: nitrogen mustards

cyclophosphamide, melphalan, ifosfamide, chlorambucil

by alkylation: nitrosureas

carmustine (BCNU), lomustine (CCNU)

by alkylation: other agents

thiotepa, mitomycin C

by platinum coordination cross‐linking

cisplatin, carboplatin

antibiotics

doxorubicin, daunorubicin, mitoxantrone, idarubicin, epirubicin, amsacrine

podophyllotoxins

etoposide, teniposide

by intercalation

dactinomycin, mithramycin

by uncertain mechanisms

bleomycin

Spindle poisons

vinca alkaloids

vincristine, vinblastine, vendesine, vinorelbine

taxanes

taxol, taxotere

Antimetabolites

thymidylate synthase

5‐fluorouracil

dihydrofolate reductase

methotrexate

Types of outcome measures

Primary outcomes

  • Overall survival (OS)

  • Progression‐free survival/time to progression (PFS/TTP)

Secondary outcomes

  • Time to treatment failure (TTF)

  • Objective tumour response rate (OTRR)

  • Toxicity rates (multiple condition‐specific outcomes)

  • Quality of life measures (multiple outcomes)

The definitions of some outcomes varied slightly across studies included in this review. Outcomes were commonly defined as:

  1. Overall survival (OS): time elapsed between randomisation (or study enrolment or treatment initiation) to date of death from any cause.

  2. Progression‐free survival (PFS): time elapsed between randomisation (or study enrolment or treatment initiation) and event, with event defined as disease progression or death from any cause.

  3. Time to progression (TTP): time elapsed between randomisation (or study enrolment or treatment initiation) and event, with event defined as disease progression (which sometimes included cause‐specific death from the study disease).

  4. Time to treatment failure (TTF): time elapsed between randomisation (or study enrolment or treatment initiation) to treatment discontinuation for any reason, including disease progression, treatment toxicity, participant preference, or death.

  5. Objective tumour response rate (OTRR): the proportion of participants who experienced a complete or partial tumour response (versus stable disease or no response).

  6. Toxicity rates (multiple condition‐specific outcomes): the proportions of participants who experienced a grade 3 or 4 adverse event of nausea and vomiting, nephrotoxicity, anaemia, hair loss and leukopenia based on WHO criteria or individual protocol‐based definitions. We also investigated treatment‐related death which, for the purpose of this review, was defined as death due to the toxicity of the drug and not to disease progression. If an individual trial did not include their definition of a treatment‐related death but used the terms 'toxic death' or 'lethal toxicity', then these deaths were still included in the pooled analysis of treatment related deaths.

  7. Quality of life measures (QoL) (multiple outcomes): various validated instruments for measuring various quality of life domains.

For the purposes of this review, PFS and TTP were analysed as the same outcome (referred to as PFS/TTP), with preference given to PFS for studies reporting both PFS and TTP extractable data.

Search methods for identification of studies

Electronic searches

For this update of the review, we searched the following databases and registries on the 28 May 2015.

(a) The Cochrane Breast Cancer Specialised Register maintained by the Cochrane Breast Cancer Group (searched 1 June 2015). Details of the search strategies used by the Cochrane Breast Cancer Group for the identification of studies and the procedure used to code references are outlined in their module (www.mrw.interscience.wiley.com/cochrane/clabout/articles/BREASTCA/frame.html). Trials coded with the key words 'advanced', 'Cisplatin', 'cisplatinum', 'carboplatin', 'carboplatinum', 'platin', 'platinum', 'platinum diamminodichloride', 'cis‐diamminedichloroplatinum', 'cis‐dichlorodiammineplatinum', 'biocisplatinum', 'dichlorodiammineplatinum', 'nsc‐119875', 'platidiam', 'platino', 'Platinol', 'cis‐diamminedichloroplatinum', 'cis‐platinum', 'cis‐diammine (cyclobutanedicarboxylato) platinum', 'cbdca', 'jm‐8', 'nsc‐241240', 'paraplatin' were extracted for consideration.
(b) Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; 2015, Issue 4) in the Cochrane Library (searched 28 May 2015). See Appendix 1.
(c) MEDLINE (via OvidSP; July 2008 to 28 May 2015). Searches were conducted from 2008 due to the Cochrane Breast Cancer Group's Specialised Register being out‐of‐date for an interim period. See Appendix 2.
(d) Embase (Via Embase.com; July 2008 to 28 May 2015). Searches were conducted from 2008 due to the Cochrane Breast Cancer Group's Specialised Register being out‐of‐date for an interim period. See Appendix 3.
(e) The WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) search portal (http://apps.who.int/trialsearch/Default.aspx) for all prospectively registered and ongoing trials. See Appendix 4.
(f) ClinicalTrials.gov (http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/home). See Appendix 5.

No restrictions were applied based on language.

Searching other resources

In addition, we searched the reference lists of other, related literature reviews.

Data collection and analysis

Selection of studies

In the original version of this review and in this review update, two reviewers applied the selection criteria (including the quality of randomisation) to each reference identified by the search strategy while masked to the study results. Any discrepancies regarding eligibility or quality were resolved by consensus or adjudication from a third reviewer. Studies that may appear to have met the eligibility criteria, but which were deemed ineligible are listed in the Characteristics of excluded studies table.

Data extraction and management

In the original version of this review and in this review update, data on the relevant outcomes were extracted by at least two reviewers, with discrepancies resolved by consensus or adjudication from another reviewer. Data were also extracted on information relating to outcome definitions, study accrual, randomisation methods, baseline characteristics of participants (e.g. age, first‐line/second‐line treatment, prior anthracyclines/anthracycline‐naïve), chemotherapy regimens (number of cycles and duration), follow‐up time and analytical methods used. Where available, multiple publications on the same study were obtained and the most complete report was assigned as the primary reference. In instances where a more recent publication was used in this review update for a study that was included in the original version of this review, the year of the reference ID was also updated. Data were entered into the Cochrane Review Manager 5.3 (RevMan 5.3) software, and RevMan 5.3 was used for most statistical analyses.

Assessment of risk of bias in included studies

In this review update, potential sources of bias for all included studies (including those in the original version of this review) were assessed using Cochrane's 'Risk of bias' assessment tool (Higgins 2011). Risk of bias for each treatment‐comparison was evaluated independently by at least two reviewers and discrepancies were resolved by consensus or adjudication from an additional reviewer. Clarification from authors was sought if the published data provided inadequate information for the review. The 'risk of bias' domains that were assessed were 'random sequence generation', 'allocation concealment', 'blinding of participants and personnel', 'blinding of outcome assessment', 'incomplete outcome data', 'selective reporting' and 'other bias'. For each included study, ratings of 'high', 'low', or 'unclear' risk of bias were assigned for each risk of bias domain following criteria outlined in the 'Risk of bias' assessment tool (Higgins 2011).

Open‐label studies are common in phase III oncology trials because it is often difficult to conceal treatments from participants, care‐providers and outcome assessors (due to differences in toxicities and treatment schedules of various treatments, for example). However, because a lack of blinding can affect risk of bias in different ways for different outcomes, we assessed 'blinding of outcome assessment' by dividing outcomes into two outcome classes: 1) OS and 2) outcomes other than OS and quality of life. This division was made because, unlike other outcomes, assessment of OS is unlikely to be affected by non‐blinding.

We also divided the 'incomplete outcome data' risk of bias domain into two outcome classes: 1) time‐to‐event outcomes and 2) binary (i.e. dichotomous) outcomes. For time‐to‐event outcomes, risk of bias was deemed low, unclear, and high risk if time‐to‐event analysis was intention‐to‐treat (ITT), modified intention‐to‐treat (mITT) or per‐protocol, respectively. For the binary outcomes (OTRRs and toxicity rates), risk of bias was deemed low, unclear, and high risk if the highest percentage of randomised participants excluded from effect estimation was less than 10%, between 10% and 15%, or more than 15%, respectively.

For 'risk of bias' domains that were divided into outcome classes, assessments were made for all studies known to be measuring the outcomes, regardless of results being reported in sufficient detail to be included in meta‐analysis or reported at all (e.g. a study might specify OS as an outcome in the study protocol but not report any results).

Measures of treatment effect

OS, PFS/TTP and TTF were analysed as time‐to‐event outcomes, for which the hazard ratio (HR) is the most appropriate measure of treatment effect. If reported, the HR and associated variance were extracted directly from the trial publication(s), and these were used to calculate observed (O) minus expected (E) numbers of events and logrank variance (V) for each treatment‐comparison using the methods described by Tierney 2007 or Parmar 1998. If not reported, O ‐ E and V were obtained indirectly from other available summary statistics or from data extracted from published Kaplan‐Meier curves using the methods described by Tierney 2007 or Parmar 1998. For studies that did not report the relevant effect estimates and required curve extraction, the numbers at risk were based on reported minimum and maximum follow‐up times. If these were not reported, minimum follow‐up was estimated as the time taken to complete treatment, and maximum follow‐up was estimated using the last event reported in the relevant time‐to‐event curve. These follow‐up estimates were recorded in the Characteristics of included studies table under 'Notes'. For the purposes of data extraction, preference was given to time‐to‐event effect estimates derived from ITT analysis, followed by mITT analysis, then per‐protocol analysis.

Pooled HRs and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were obtained from the O ‐ E and V statistics for each treatment‐comparison using the fixed‐effect model (Yusuf 1985). The pooled HR represented the instantaneous risk of an event (such as death, disease progression or treatment failure) for women receiving platinum divided by the corresponding risk for those not receiving platinum. HRs less than 1.00 favoured the platinum‐containing regimens and values greater than 1.00 favoured non‐platinum regimens.

Toxicity rates and OTRRs were analysed as proportions using the risk ratio (RR) as the measure of treatment effect. OTRRs were most often calculated by trialists using only participants that were assessable for tumour response. These 'assessable participants' were generally defined as participants whose tumour response could be assessed according to prespecified criteria such as RECIST (Eisenhauer 2009), but this definition was sometimes extended to additionally exclude participants who had not received a specified minimum dose of chemotherapy. In this review update and in the original version of this review, we calculated OTRRs using the numbers of assessable participants in the OTRR denominators, but we also separately calculated OTRRs using the numbers of randomised participants in the denominators. In this review update, however, only the results from the assessable participants analyses were reported as there was almost no difference between the results obtained using assessable and randomised participant denominators (the latter are available on request). Toxicity rates were most often calculated by trialists using a 'safety population' of participants who received a specified minimum dose of chemotherapy. We calculated toxicity rates for each study using the population used by that study.

Pooled RRs and 95% confidence intervals were obtained through Mantel‐Haenszel fixed‐effect analysis. The pooled RR represented the cumulative risk of an event for participants receiving platinum divided by the corresponding risk for those not receiving platinum. RRs greater than 1.00 favoured platinum‐containing regimens and values less than 1.00 favoured non‐platinum regimens.

Quality of life was generally reported as a continuous outcome. Hence, if sufficient quality of life data become available for meta‐analysis in future review updates, the effect measure would most likely be the mean difference (MD) or standardised mean difference (SMD), depending on whether the same or different validated questionnaires (respectively) were employed.

Unit of analysis issues

Treatment‐comparisons were the unit of analysis in this review and corresponded to pairwise comparisons of platinum and non‐platinum regimens. Individual studies assessing more than one platinum‐based regimen or more than one non‐platinum regimen (or both) contributed more than one treatment‐comparison to the review. Consequently, there were more treatment‐comparisons in this review than there were studies.

Two studies each contained two non‐platinum regimen (control) groups for comparison against a single platinum‐based regimen (intervention) group. This was taken into account when treatment effect statistics were calculated by splitting each study into two treatment‐comparisons (Stemmler 2011 A, Stemmler 2011 B and Fountzilas 2009 A, Fountzilas 2009 B) and halving the number of participants in their intervention groups (for odd numbered group sizes, the additional participant was arbitrarily distributed to the treatment‐comparison with label ending with 'A'). Another study contained two platinum‐based regimen (intervention) groups for comparison against a single non‐platinum (control) group. This study was split into two treatment‐comparisons (Xu 2011 A, Xu 2011 B) with treatment effect statistics calculated by halving the number of participants in the control group (with additional participants again arbitrarily distributed to treatment‐comparisons with label ending with 'A'). One other study was a four‐armed trial and was also reported as two separate treatment‐comparisons (Berruti 2002 A, Berruti 2002 B). For these two treatment‐comparisons, no adjustments to participant numbers were required as their control and intervention groups were unique to each comparison. These methods for correcting for multiple intervention and/or control groups were suggested in the Cochrane Handbook (Higgins 2011).

Dealing with missing data

Attempts were made to contact a number of trial investigators for additional information. Three trialists (Cocconi, Costanza and Fountzilas) provided additional time‐to‐event data which allowed HRs to be extracted.

Assessment of heterogeneity

Heterogeneity between trial results was assessed using the Chi2 test statistic and the I2 statistic. The Chi2 test statistic assesses the amount of variation in a set of trials. Small P values for the Chi2 test statistic suggest that there is more heterogeneity present than would be expected by chance. Chi2 is not a particularly sensitive test: a cut‐off of P value less than 0.10 is often used to indicate significance, but lack of statistical significance does not mean there is no heterogeneity. I2 is the proportion of variation that is due to heterogeneity rather than chance. In conjunction with the Chi2 test, we used the I2 statistic to assess heterogeneity using the rule of thumb guide outlined in the Cochrane Handbook (Higgins 2011) (i.e. I2 between 0% to 40% might not be important; between 30% to 60% may represent moderate heterogeneity; between 50% to 90% may represent substantial heterogeneity; and between 75% to 100% considerable heterogeneity).

Assessment of reporting biases

In addition to assessing each treatment‐comparison individually for 'selective reporting' using the Cochrane Collaboration's 'Risk of bias' assessment tool (see Assessment of risk of bias in included studies above), publication bias and/or small‐study effects were assessed for the outcomes OS, PFS/TTP and OTRR by visual inspection of funnel plot asymmetry. Egger's statistical test was used to formally assess the degree of asymmetry (Egger 1997).

Data synthesis

For time‐to‐event outcomes, RevMan 5.3 was used to estimate pooled HRs and 95% CIs using fixed‐effect models of the derived or reported observed (O) and expected (E) number of events and the variance of the log‐rank statistic (V) for each trial. For binary outcomes, RevMan 5.3 was used to estimate pooled RRs and 95% CIs using the fixed‐effect Mantel‐Haenszel method.

The standard GRADE system (Guyatt 2011) was to use to rate the quality of evidence relating to the estimated treatment effects on OS, PFS/TTP, OTRR, nausea/vomiting, anaemia, hair loss and leukopenia. GRADE criteria for assessing quality of evidence include 'study design', 'risk of bias', 'inconsistency', 'indirectness', 'imprecision', 'suspected publication bias' and 'other considerations'. Assessments of these criteria and corresponding justifications are provided in three 'Summary of findings' tables largely created using GRADEproGDT (GradeproGDT). GRADE assessments were performed separately for selected subgroups related to effect estimate heterogeneity (or 'inconsistency' as labelled in the GRADE assessment criteria).

Subgroup analysis and investigation of heterogeneity

Subgroup analyses were performed to determine whether the results differed by:

  1. mTNBC status: (a) mTNBC participants, (b) participants unselected for mTNBC;

  2. type of regimen comparison: (a) regimen A + platinum vs regimen A, (b) regimen A + platinum vs regimen B, (c) single agent platinum vs regimen C; (note that we allowed "regimen A" to differ in dosage by small amounts between intervention and control arms)

  3. type of platinum agent in platinum arm: (a) cisplatin, (b) carboplatin, (c) oxaliplatin;

  4. first‐line therapy: (a) first‐line therapy for > 80% of participants, (b) second‐ or third‐line therapy for ≥ 20% of participants;

  5. anthracycline in regimens: (a) no anthracycline in platinum or non‐platinum regimens, (b) platinum + anthracycline vs non‐platinum + anthracycline regimen, (c) platinum + anthracycline vs non‐platinum + non‐anthracycline regimens;

  6. taxane in regimens: (a) no taxane in platinum or non‐platinum regimens, (b) platinum + taxane vs non‐platinum + taxane regimens, (c) platinum + non‐taxane vs non‐platinum + taxane regimens;

  7. trastuzumab in regimens: (a) no trastuzumab in platinum or non‐platinum regimens, (b) platinum + trastuzumab vs non‐platinum + trastuzumab regimens

Possible subgroup differences were assessed using Chi2 tests.

Of the above seven subgroup analyses:

  • Subgroup analysis 2 was the only 'a priori' subgroup analysis pre‐specified in the review protocol; all other subgroup analyses were 'post hoc'.

  • Subgroup analyses 2, 4, 5 and 6 were conducted in the original review, although additional subgroups have been added for some of these analyses (eg. the conjugate subgroup 'second‐ or third‐line therapy for ≥ 20% of participants' has been added to the 'first‐line therapy' analysis).

  • In order to reduce the number of forest plots in this review update, toxicity rates were only assessed overall and by subgroup analysis 3 (as 'type of platinum agent' is known to be related to toxicity). Analyses of toxicity rates by other subgroups are available on request.

In this review update, the subgroupings of a few studies have been corrected from the original version of the review. Furthermore, the subgroup analysis 'first‐line therapy' was incorrectly labelled '100% firstline trials' in the original version of the review and the actual cut‐off that was applied was first‐line therapy for > 80% of participants.

Sensitivity analysis

Sensitivity analyses were performed to assess whether apparent inconsistencies in results relating to OS, PFS/TTP and OTRR were more likely to be due to differences in the underlying nature of these outcomes, or an artefact of the different treatment‐comparisons available for the meta‐analysis of each outcome. First, the pooled effect estimate for OTRR was recalculated restricting the meta‐analysis to the 19 treatment‐comparisons with extractable data on OS. Second, the pooled effect estimates for PFS/TTP and OS were recalculated restricting both meta‐analyses to the 12 treatment‐comparisons with extractable data on both OS and PFS/TTP.

In additional sensitivity analyses, PFS/TTP estimates were stratified according to whether the outcome was PFS or TTP. For these analyses, estimates were classified as PFS if the event of interest was defined as disease progression or death from any cause. Estimates were classified as TTP if the event of interest was defined as disease progression, which may also include cause‐specific death from breast cancer. In instances where the event of interest was ambiguously defined or not defined at all, we relied on the authors label of the outcome for classifying as PFS or TTP.

Lastly, to assess the sensitivity of our primary results to our choice of analytical method, we repeated Analysis 1.1, Analysis 1.2 and Analysis 1.3 but using random‐effects rather than fixed‐effect methods.

Results

Description of studies

Results of the search

For the 2016 review update, we reviewed 1644 unique records identified by the May 2015 database searches (Figure 1). Of these, 1610 could be excluded based on information in the title or abstract, and nine records from trial registries or protocol publications were considered to be potentially relevant ongoing studies yet to publish results (see Characteristics of ongoing studies). For the remaining 25 records, we retrieved full‐text articles or abstracts for further examination. Eight of the 25 articles or abstracts were excluded because they were reviews (but these were still used to search for further studies by handsearching the bibliographies) and three other full‐text articles were excluded for reasons outlined in the Characteristics of excluded studies table.


Review update 2016: study flow diagram.

Review update 2016: study flow diagram.

Included studies

Fourteen studies containing 17 treatment‐comparisons with sufficient data to be included in one or more pooled analyses were identified by this review update. Of these 17 treatment‐comparisons, two had been included in the original review but had since published updated results (Icli 2002 and Fountzilas 2002 in the original review were renamed Icli 2005 and Fountzilas 2004 in this review update), and 15 were new to the review (Amadori 2013 ;Bhattacharyya 2009; Carey 2012; Fan 2012; Delaloge 2004; Fountzilas 2009 A; Fountzilas 2009 B; Hu 2015; Robert 2006; Stemmler 2011 A; Stemmler 2011 B; Tutt 2014; Valero 2011; Xu 2011 A; Xu 2011 B). Overall, the review now includes results from 24 studies corresponding to 28 treatment‐comparisons (see Characteristics of included studies).

Of the 28 treatment‐comparisons included in this review update (Table 3):

Open in table viewer
Table 3. Number of treatment‐comparisons included in meta‐analyses by subgroup and three outcomes

Outcome

Subgroup

Treatment‐

comparisons

N

Overall

survival

n (% of N)

Progression

‐free

survival/time to

progression

n (% of N)

Objective

response

rate

n (% of N)

Overall:

28

19 (68%)

16 (57%)

28 (100%)

Type of platinum agent in platinum arm:

Cisplatin in platinum arm

17

11 (65%)

11 (65%)

17 (100%)

Carboplatin in platinum arm

10

8 (80%)

5 (50%)

10 (100%)

Oxaliplatin in platinum arm

1

(0%)

(0%)

1 (100%)

Type of regimen comparison:

Regimen A + platinum agent vs regimen A

9

6 (67%)

6 (67%)

9 (100%)

Regimen A + platinum agent vs regimen B

18

13 (72%)

10 (56%)

18 (100%)

Single agent platinum vs regimen C

1

(0%)

(0%)

1 (100%)

First‐line therapy:

First‐line therapy for > 80% of participants

20

15 (75%)

11 (55%)

20 (100%)

Second‐ or third‐line therapy for ≥ 20% of participants

8

4 (50%)

5 (63%)

8 (100%)

Participant selection for mTNBC:

Participants with mTNBC

5

3 (60%)

3 (60%)

5 (100%)

Participants unselected for mTNBC

23

16 (70%)

13 (57%)

23 (100%)

Anthracycline in regimens:

No anthracycline in platinum or non‐platinum regimens

18

14 (78%)

11 (61%)

18 (100%)

Platinum + anthracycline vs non‐platinum + anthracycline regimens

6

3 (50%)

4 (67%)

6 (100%)

Platinum + anthracycline vs non‐platinum + non‐anthracycline regimens

4

2 (50%)

1 (25%)

4 (100%)

Taxane in regimens:

No taxane in platinum or non‐platinum regimens

17

9 (53%)

9 (53%)

17 (100%)

Platinum + taxane vs non‐platinum + taxane regimens

6

6 (100%)

3 (50%)

6 (100%)

Platinum + non‐taxane vs non‐platinum + taxane regimens

5

4 (80%)

4 (80%)

5 (100%)

Trastuzumab in regimens:

No trastuzumab in platinum or non‐platinum regimens

26

17 (65%)

14 (54%)

26 (100%)

Platinum + trastuzumab vs non‐platinum + trastuzumab regimens

2

2 (100%)

2 (100%)

2 (100%)

  • 17 (61%) used cisplatin, 10 (36%) used carboplatin and one (4%) used oxaliplatin as the platinum agent in the intervention arm;

  • 9 (32%) compared 'regimen A + platinum vs regimen A', 18 (64%) compared 'regimen A + platinum vs regimen B' and one (4%) compared single agent platinum vs regimen C' (Table 4);

  • 20 (71%) had more than 80% of participants receiving first‐line therapy;

  • 5 (18%) were designed to assess participants with mTNBC;

  • 18 (64%) had no anthracycline in the platinum or non‐platinum regimens, six (21%) had an anthracycline in both regimens, and four (14%) had an anthracycline in the platinum regimen only;

  • 17 (61%) had no taxane in the platinum or non‐platinum regimens; six (21%) had a taxane in both regimens and five (18%) had a taxane in the non‐platinum regimen only;

  • 26 (93%) had no trastuzumab in the platinum or non‐platinum regimens and two (7%) had a trastuzumab in both regimens.

Open in table viewer
Table 4. Summary of regimens included in the analysis

Trials ID

Arm 1 (platinum‐containing)

Arm 2 (control)

First‐line therapy for > 80% of participants

Majority participants anthracycline‐naive

Regimen A + platinum vs regimen A

Berruti 2002 A

Epi + Cis (epirubicin+cisplatin)

Epi (epirubicin)

Y

Y

Berruti 2002 B

Epi + Cis + LND (epirubicin+cisplatin+lonidamine)

Epi + LND (epirubicin + lonidamine)

Y

Y

Bhattacharyya 2009

Endoxan 50 mg per day at 10 am and methotrexate 2.5 mg twice a day at 9 am and 5 pm and with 'cisplatinum'

Endoxan 50 mg per day at 10 am and methotrexate 2.5 mg twice a day at 9 am and 5 pm

N

N

Carey 2012

C + Cb (Cetuximab + carboplatin)

C (Cetuximab with carboplatin added after progression)

N

N

Costanza 1999

CBDA + CAF (carboplatin + cycloheximide + doxorubicin + fluorouracil + methotrexate)

CAF (cycloheximide + doxorubicin + fluorouracil)

(methotrexate substituted after total doxorubicin ‐ 540 mg)

Y

Unclear

Fountzilas 2009 A

PCb (paclitaxel + carboplatin)

Pw (paclitaxel)

Y

N

Nielsen 2000

Epi + Cis (epirubicin + cisplatin)

Epi (epirubicin)

Y

Y

Robert 2006

TPC (trastuzumab + paclitaxel + carboplatin)

TP (trastuzumab + paclitaxel)

Y

Unclear

Valero 2011

TCH (trastuzumab + docetaxel + carboplatin)

TH (trastuzumab + docetaxel)

Y

N

Regimen A + platinum vs regimen B

Amadori 2013

(pemetrexed + carboplatin)

(vinorelbine + gemcitabine)

N

N

Cocconi 1991

MPEPIV(a) or MPEMi (b) (a: methotrexate, leucovorin, cisplatin, epirubicin, vincristine; b: methotrexate, leucovorin, cisplatin, etoposide, mitomycin)

CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, fluorouracil)

Y

Y

Cocconi 1996

Etop + Cis (etoposide + cisplatin)

CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, fluorouracil)

Y

Unclear

Cocconi 1999

PE + CMF + AL (cisplatin + etoposide + doxorubicin + cyclophosphamide, methotrexate + fluorouracil, lecovorin + allopurinol)

CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, fluorouracil)

Y

Unclear

Creagan 1984

CFP + CAP (cyclophosphamide + doxorubicin + cis‐dichlordiammine + CFP)

CFP (cyclophosphamide + fluorouracil + prednisone)

Y

Y

Delaloge 2004

OXA (oxaliplatin + 5‐flurouracil)

VIN (vinorelbine)

N

N

Eisen 1998

EcisF (5‐flurouracil + epirubicin + cisplatin)

EcycloF (5‐flurouracil + epirubicin + cyclophosphamide)

Y

Y

Fan 2012

TP (docetaxel + cisplatin)

TX (docetaxel + capecitabine)

Y

N

Fountzilas 2004

Epi + Pcb (epirubicin + carboplatin)

Epi + P (epirubicin + paclitaxel)

Y

Y (54%)

Fountzilas 2009 B

PCb (paclitaxel + carboplatin)

GDoc (docetaxel + gemcitabine)

Y

N

Hu 2015

(cisplatin + gemcitabine)

(paclitaxel + gemcitabine)

Y

N

Icli 2005

Etop + Cis (etoposide + cisplatin)

P (paclitaxel)

N

N

Kolaric 1985

CAP (cyclophosphamide + doxorubicin + platinum)

CMFVP (cyclophosphamide + methotrexate + 5‐fluorouracil + vincristine + prednisone)

Y

Y

Kolaric 1989

CAP (cyclophosphamide + doxorubicin +platinum)

FAC (5‐flurouracil + doxorubicin +

cyclophosphamide)

Y

Y

Stemmler 2011 A

GemCis (gemcitabine + cisplatin)

GemVin (gemcitabine + vinorelbine)

N

N

Stemmler 2011 B

GemCis (gemcitabine + cisplatin)

GemCap (gemcitabine + capecitabine)

N

N

Xu 2011 A

GemCis (gemcitabine + cisplatin)

GemPac (gemcitabine + paclitaxel)

Y

N

Xu 2011 B

GemCarb (gemcitabine + carboplatin)

GemPac (gemcitabine + paclitaxel)

Y

N

Single agent platinum vs regimen C

Tutt 2014

C (carboplatin)

D (docetaxel)

N

Unclear

Not all the studies provided sufficient information on all outcomes for inclusion in meta‐analyses. Of the 28 treatment‐comparisons:

  • 19 (68%), 16 (57%) and 28 (100%) had sufficient data to be included in the meta‐analyses of effect estimates for OS, PFS/TTP and OTRR, respectively (Table 3 and Figure 1);

  • 15 (54%), 21 (75%), 5 (18%), 20 (71%), 12 (43%) and 22 (79%) had sufficient data to be included in the meta‐analyses of effect estimates for treatment‐related death, nausea/vomiting, nephrotoxicity, anaemia, hair loss, and leukopenia, respectively (Table 5 and Figure 1).

Open in table viewer
Table 5. Summary of outcomes for included trials

Trial ID

Extractable OS data for HR estimation1

Median OS time2

Extractable PFS/TTP data for HR estimation1

Median PFS/TTP time2

Overall response

Treatment‐related deaths

Grade III & IV Toxicity

Accrual3

Regimen A + platinum vs regimen A

Berruti 2002 A

NR

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Nausea/vomiting

Nephrotoxicity

Anaemia

Leukopenia

185

Berruti 2002 B

NR

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Nausea/vomiting

Nephrotoxicity

Anaemia

Leukopenia

186

Bhattacharyya 2009

NR

Y

NR

Y

Y

NR

NR

126

Carey 2012

Y

Y

Y

NR

Y

NR

Not extractable

102

Costanza 1999

Y

Y

NR

NR

Y

Y

Nausea/vomiting

Anaemia

Leukopenia

221

Fountzilas 2009 A

Y

Y

NR

NR

Y

Y

Nausea/vomiting

Anaemia

Hair loss

Leukopenia

204

Nielsen 2000

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Nausea/vomiting

Leukopenia

155

Robert 2006

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

NR

Nausea/vomiting

Anaemia

Leukopenia

196

Valero 2011

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Nausea/vomiting

Anaemia

263

Regimen A + platinum vs regimen B

Amadori 2013

NR

NR

Y

Y

Y

Y

Leukopenia

135

Cocconi 1991

Y

Y

NR

Y

Y

NR

Anaemia

Leukopenia

140

Cocconi 1999

Y

Y

NR

Y

Y

NR

Nausea/vomiting

Anaemia

Hair loss

Leukopenia

105

Cocconi 1996

NR

Y

NR

Y

Y

DU

Not extractable

169

Creagan 1984

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

NR

Nausea/vomiting

Hair loss

Leukopenia

86

Delaloge 2004

NR

Y

NR

Y

Y

Y

Not extractable

137

Eisen 1998

NR

Y

Y

Y

Y

DU

Nausea/vomiting

Anaemia

Hair loss

Leukopenia

59

Fan 2012

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Nausea/vomiting

Anaemia

Leukopenia

53

Fountzilas 2004

Y

NR

NR

NR

Y

NR

Nausea/vomiting

Anaemia

Leukopenia

327

Fountzilas 2009 B

Y

Y

NR

NR

Y

Y

Nausea/vomiting

Anaemia

Hair loss

Leukopenia

212

Hu 2015

Y

NR

Y

Y

Y

Y

Nausea/vomiting

Anaemia

Hair loss

Leukopenia

236

Icli 2005

Y

Y

Y

NR

Y

Y

Nausea/vomiting

Anaemia

Leukopenia

193

Kolaric 1985

NR

NR

NR

NR

Y

NR

Nausea/vomiting

Nephrotoxicity

Anaemia

Hair loss

Leukopenia

123

Kolaric 1989

Y

Y

NR

NR

Y

Y

Nausea/vomiting

Anaemia

Hair loss

Leukopenia

142

Stemmler 2011 A

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

NR

Nausea/vomiting

Anaemia

Hair loss

Leukopenia

69

Stemmler 2011 B

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

NR

Nausea/vomiting

Anaemia

Hair loss

Leukopenia

72

Xu 2011 A

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Nausea/vomiting

Nephrotoxicity

Anaemia

Hair loss

Leukopenia

75

Xu 2011 B

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Nausea/vomiting

Nephrotoxicity

Anaemia

Hair loss

Leukopenia

71

Single agent platinum vs regimen C

Tutt 2014

NR

Y

NR

Y

Y

NR

NR

376

1 Sufficient data reported to estimate a HR for pooling as outlined by Parmar 1998 and Tierney 2007; this includes Kapalan‐Meier curve, HR and standard error/confidence interval or logrank statistics

2 Trials that did not explicitly report median time were classified as NR here regardless of estimable median time from Kaplan‐Meier curve

3 Accrual numbers represent the maximum numbers of participants in the trial (not study) that were included in the analyses of OS, PFS/TTP or OR (assessable participants).

*NR = not reported, DU = deaths unexplained, Y = data reported.

Three studies reported treatment effects on various quality of life domains (Fountzilas 2004; Fountzilas 2009: Fountzilas 2009 A & Fountzilas 2009 B; Amadori 2013) but these results could not be pooled in a meta‐analysis. Three studies reported TTF results (Amadori 2013; Fountzilas 2004; Xu: Xu 2011 A & Xu 2011 B), but these data were only extractable for Fountzilas 2004.

Excluded studies

In this review update, seven studies may have appeared to have met the eligibility criteria, but were deemed ineligible for reasons given in the Characteristics of excluded studies table. Of these seven excluded studies: two were registered trials that were previously listed as 'ongoing studies' in the original review but were reclassified as 'excluded' in this review update because the principal investigator had informed us that the trials never commenced (Perez 2001; Perez 2002); two were 'excluded studies' in the original review and remained so in this review update (Cartei 1996; Hogdall 1993); and three were newly identified in this review update (Crump 2008; Somlo 2015; Wang 2008). Two other studies listed as 'excluded' in the original review ('Eisen' and 'Ryberg 1998') were removed from the excluded studies section altogether in this review update as they referred to earlier reports of studies that were actually included in the original review (Eisen 1998; Nielsen 2000).

Risk of bias in included studies

Figure 2 shows a summary of the 'Risk of bias' judgements for each 'Risk of bias' domain of the included treatment‐comparisons. Reasons for each judgement are detailed for each treatment‐comparison in the Characteristics of included studies table. For each 'risk of bias' domain, a summary of the general risk of bias for results of the included studies was as follows.


Risk of bias summary: review authors' judgements about each risk of bias item for each included study.

Risk of bias summary: review authors' judgements about each risk of bias item for each included study.

Allocation

All 24 studies, relating to 28 treatment‐comparisons, were described as randomised (this being an inclusion criterion of the review). The method of random sequence generation was described sufficiently to be judged at low risk of bias for this domain in 5 treatment‐comparisons (Bhattacharyya 2009; Carey 2012; Fountzilas 2004; Hu 2015; Valero 2011). The remaining 23 treatment‐comparisons were judged to be at unclear risk of bias for random sequence generation as the information available was insufficient to accurately assess this domain.

Eight of the 28 treatment‐comparisons described central randomisation systems and were thus judged to be at low risk of bias for treatment allocation concealment (Cocconi 1991; Cocconi 1999; Fountzilas 2004; Fountzilas 2009 A; Fountzilas 2009 B; Hu 2015; Icli 2005; Nielsen 2000). The remaining 20 treatment‐comparisons did not adequately describe methods of concealment and were thus judged as having unclear risk of bias for this domain.

Blinding

Eleven treatment‐comparisons were described as 'nonblinded', 'not blinded', 'single blind' or 'open‐label' (Amadori 2013; Carey 2012; Fan 2012; Hu 2015; Icli 2005; Stemmler 2011 A; Stemmler 2011 B; Tutt 2014; Valero 2011; Xu 2011 A; Xu 2011 B). These 11 'unblinded' treatment‐comparisons were judged to be at high risk of 'performance bias' due to the lack of blinding of participants and personnel to the treatment being administered. The remaining 17 treatment‐comparisons were judged as at unclear risk of 'performance bias' because of a lack of information needed to make a firm conclusion. It seemed highly likely, however, that a number of these 17 treatment‐comparisons would have also been 'unblinded', as open‐label studies are common in phase III oncology trials.

All 27 treatment‐comparisons known to have OS as a study outcome (including 8 not included in OS meta‐analyses but excluding Amadori 2013 which did not assess OS as an outcome) were judged to be at low risk of bias from a lack of blinding of outcome assessors, regardless of actual blinding. This is because death certification was unlikely to be affected by any lack of blinding.

For outcomes other than OS and QoL, five treatment‐comparisons were judged to be at low risk of bias from a lack of blinding of outcome assessors due to these outcomes being measured/confirmed through formal assessments including imaging, biochemical tests and/or the involvement of an independent clinical or radiological review group (Carey 2012; Cocconi 1991; Cocconi 1999; Fountzilas 2004; Icli 2005). The remaining 23 treatment‐comparisons provided insufficient detail on outcome assessments and were thus classified as having an unclear risk of bias.

Incomplete outcome data

Three treatment‐comparisons were judged to be at high risk of attrition bias for time‐to‐event outcomes because participants who did not receive a specified number of cycles of chemotherapy were excluded from time‐to‐event analyses (a form of per‐protocol analysis) (Kolaric 1985; Kolaric 1989; Nielsen 2000). Eleven treatment‐comparisons excluded randomised participants who never started treatment or who were subsequently found to have been 'ineligible' from time‐to‐event analyses (mITT analyses) (Berruti 2002 A; Carey 2012; Cocconi 1999; Cocconi 1996; Creagan 1984; Fountzilas 2004; Fountzilas 2009 A; Fountzilas 2009 B; Hu 2015; Icli 2005; Xu 2011 A). These 11 treatment‐comparisons were judged to be at unclear risk of attrition bias for time‐to‐event outcomes. The remaining 14 treatment‐comparisons were judged to be at low risk of attrition bias for time‐to‐event outcomes because all randomised participants were analysed in the groups to which they were randomised (ITT analysis).

Four treatment‐comparisons had more than 15% of participants not assessed/assessable for at least one binary outcome and were thus judged to be at high risk of attrition bias for binary outcomes (Amadori 2013; Fountzilas 2009 B; Stemmler 2011 A; Stemmler 2011 B; ). Fourteen treatment‐comparisons had less than 10% of participants not assessed/assessable for all binary outcomes and were thus judged to be at low risk of attrition bias for binary outcomes (Berruti 2002 A; Berruti 2002 B; Cocconi 1991; Cocconi 1999; Creagan 1984; Fan 2012; Fountzilas 2004; Hu 2015; Icli 2005; Kolaric 1985; Robert 2006; Valero 2011; Xu 2011 A; Xu 2011 B). The remaining 10 treatment‐comparisons were judged to be at unclear risk of attrition bias for binary outcomes (10 to 15% of participants not assessed/assessable for at least one binary outcome or it was unclear what proportion were not assessed).

Selective reporting

The assessment of risk of bias from selective reporting included crosschecking the outcomes for which there were published results against the stated outcomes reported in trial registers (WHO ICTRP and ClinicalTrials.gov) and published protocols. In our assessment of risk of bias from selective reporting, studies that began recruiting participants on or after July 1, 2005 were expected have a clinical registration or published protocol specifying the study outcome or they were deemed to be at high risk of bias from selective reporting. We chose July 1, 2005 as our cut‐off date because the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) made a seminal announcement in September 2004 that clinical trials that begin recruiting on or after July 1, 2005 would not be considered for publication unless they were included on a clinical trials registry (De Angelis 2005). Studies included in this review which began recruiting participants before July 1, 2005 and which did not have a trial registration or published protocol prespecifying study outcomes, were assumed to be at unclear risk of bias from selective reporting, unless additional evidence suggested otherwise.

Six treatment‐comparisons from four studies were judged to be at low risk of bias from the selective reporting of outcomes (Carey 2012; Hu 2015; Stemmler 2011 A; Stemmler 2011 B; Xu 2011 A; Xu 2011 B). Each of these studies was included on a clinical trials registry and their prespecified outcomes either matched those in the trial reports or non‐matches were considered to be relatively minor. Three treatment‐comparisons were judged to be at high risk of bias from the selective reporting of outcomes. The first of these was Tutt 2014 which specified TTP, TTF and toxicity as outcomes in the trial registration, but did not report on these outcomes in either of two conference abstracts (future publications may report in more detail and this 'risk of bias' assessment may change). The second was Fan 2012 which did not have a trial registration or published protocol and did not report the date that participants were first enrolled. However, given that Fan 2012 was first published in December 2012 and that there were only 53 study participants, it seemed highly likely that recruitment began after July 1, 2005. Consequently, there was a high expectation of trial registration which this study failed to undertake. The third of these was Bhattacharyya 2009 in which the abstract indicated that toxicity was recorded but no results were reported. In addition, for Bhattacharyya 2009, there was no trial registration or published protocol containing prespecified outcomes. The date that participant recruitment began was not reported, but given that this was first published in September 2009, it seemed likely that recruitment began after July 1, 2005. As of April 2015, there had been no further results published other than those in the conference abstract. The remaining 19 treatment‐comparisons were judged to be at unclear risk of bias from the selective reporting of outcomes either because the trial was unregistered with recruitment starting before July 1, 2005 or the stated outcomes in the registry did not match those in the trial reports, but it was unclear if these non‐matches posed a high risk of bias.

Egger's tests for funnel plot asymmetry did not identify evidence consistent with the presence of publication bias or small‐study effects, or both, for OS (P value = 0.98; Figure 3), PFS/TTP (P value = 0.36) or OTRR (P value = 0.45).


Funnel plot 1: Overall survival (OS). Assessing publication bias and/or small‐study effects. Plot includes all treatment‐comparisons with extractable data for OS. The plot does not show asymmetry (Egger's test P value = 0.98)

Funnel plot 1: Overall survival (OS). Assessing publication bias and/or small‐study effects. Plot includes all treatment‐comparisons with extractable data for OS. The plot does not show asymmetry (Egger's test P value = 0.98)

Other potential sources of bias

Five treatment‐comparisons were judged to be at unclear risk of 'other bias' (Carey 2012; Eisen 1998; Fountzilas 2004; Hu 2015; Tutt 2014) for various reasons outlined in the Characteristics of included studies table. The remaining 23 treatment‐comparisons were judged to be at low risk of 'other bias'.

Effects of interventions

See: Summary of findings for the main comparison Platinum‐containing regimens for women with metastatic breast cancer unselected for triple‐negative disease; Summary of findings 2 Platinum‐containing regimens for women with metastatic triple‐negative breast cancer; Summary of findings 3 Platinum‐containing regimens and toxicity profile

Refer to summary of findings Table for the main comparison; summary of findings Table 2; summary of findings Table 3.

Overall survival (OS)

Twenty‐seven of the 28 included treatment‐comparisons assessed OS as an outcome; 19 provided sufficient OS data for pooling in meta‐analyses. From these 19 treatment‐comparisons, 2922 of 2956 randomised participants were analysed representing 99% of randomised participants in these treatment‐comparisons (and there were about 1868 deaths). There was no statistically significant difference in survival between platinum‐containing regimens or non‐platinum regimens with a HR of 0.98 (95% CI 0.89 to 1.07, P = 0.64) with some heterogeneity identified across trials (P = 0.04; I2 = 39%) (Analysis 1.1; Figure 4).


Forest plot of comparison: 1 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 1: by treatment‐comparisons assessing mTNBC), outcome: 1.1 Overall survival.

Forest plot of comparison: 1 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 1: by treatment‐comparisons assessing mTNBC), outcome: 1.1 Overall survival.

Subgroup analysis showed a marginally significant survival benefit in favour of platinum‐containing regimens for three treatment‐comparisons assessing women with metastatic triple‐negative breast cancer (mTNBC) only (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.57 to 1.00; P = 0.05; low‐quality evidence) (Analysis 1.1; Figure 4). The difference between this pooled HR of 0.75 and that from 16 treatment‐comparisons assessing participants unselected for TNBC (HR 1.01, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.12; high‐quality evidence) was marginally significant (P = 0.05); heterogeneity was not large in either subgroup (P = 0.23, I2 = 32% and P = 0.09, 34% respectively). The six other subgroup analyses showed no evidence of subgroup differences (P values ranged from P = 0.09 to P = 0.86; see Analysis 2.1; Analysis 3.1; Analysis 4.1; Analysis 5.1; Analysis 6.1; Analysis 7.1).

Progression‐free survival/time to progression (PFS/TTP)

Twenty‐four of the 28 included treatment‐comparisons assessed PFS or TTP, or both, as an outcome; 16 provided sufficient data for pooling in meta‐analyses of the composite outcome of PFS/TTP. From these 16 treatment‐comparisons, 2136 out of 2162 (99%) randomised participants were analysed (and there were about 1772 events). There was a statistically significant difference in favour of platinum‐containing regimens (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.78 to 0.93, P = 0.0002), although there was marked evidence of heterogeneity (P = 0.0004; I2 = 63%) (Analysis 1.2; Figure 5).


Forest plot of comparison: 1 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 1: by treatment‐comparisons assessing mTNBC), outcome: 1.2 Progression‐free survival/time to progression.

Forest plot of comparison: 1 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 1: by treatment‐comparisons assessing mTNBC), outcome: 1.2 Progression‐free survival/time to progression.

Significant differences in the pooled HRs of subgroups were found in three of the seven subgroup analyses involving PFS/TTP. Specifically, there were significant differences in the pooled HRs for subgroups of treatment‐comparisons:

  • assessing participants with mTNBC (HR 0.59, 95% CI 0.49 to 0.72; heterogeneity P = 0.07, I2 = 62%; n = 3; low‐quality evidence) and unselected for mTNBC (HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.01; heterogeneity P = 0.08, I2 = 38%; n = 13; moderate‐quality evidence) (P < 0.0001 for subgroup difference) (Analysis 1.2; Figure 5).

  • with > 80% of participants receiving first‐line therapy (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.03; heterogeneity P = 0.003, I2 = 63%; n = 11) and > 20% of participants receiving second‐ or third‐line therapy (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.65 to 0.86; heterogeneity P = 0.12, I2 = 45%; n = 5) (P = 0.01 for subgroup difference) (Analysis 4.2).

  • with no anthracycline in the platinum or non‐platinum regimens (HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.88; heterogeneity P = 0.001, I2 = 65%; n = 11), an anthracycline in both the platinum and non‐platinum regimens (HR 1.05, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.27; heterogeneity P = 0.35, I2 = 8%; n = 4) and an anthracycline in the platinum regimen only (HR 1.23, 95% CI 0.75 to 2.03; n = 1) (P = 0.02 for subgroup difference) (Analysis 5.2).

The four other subgroup analyses showed no evidence of subgroup differences (P values ranged from P = 0.34 to P = 0.88; see Analysis 3.2; Analysis 6.2; Analysis 7.2; Analysis 8.2).

Time to treatment failure (TTF)

Three of the 28 included treatment‐comparisons assessed TTF as an outcome but only one provided sufficient data for extraction (Fountzilas 2004: HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.69 to 1.13).

Objective Tumour Response Rate (OTRR) — assessable participants

All 28 included treatment‐comparisons assessed OTRR as an outcome and provided sufficient data for extraction. From the 28 treatment‐comparisons, 4130 out of 4475 (92%) randomised participants were assessable for tumour response (and 2017 had a complete or partial response). There was a statistically significant difference in OTRRs in favour of platinum‐containing regimens (RR 1.15, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.22, P < 0.0001), but there was also considerable evidence of heterogeneity (P < 0.0001; I2 = 64%) (Analysis 1.3; Figure 6).


Forest plot of comparison: 1 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 1: by treatment‐comparisons assessing mTNBC), outcome: 1.3 Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants).

Forest plot of comparison: 1 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 1: by treatment‐comparisons assessing mTNBC), outcome: 1.3 Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants).

Significant differences in the pooled RRs of subgroups were found in five of the seven OTRR subgroup analyses. Specifically, there were significant differences in the pooled RRs for subgroups of treatment‐comparisons:

  • assessing participants with mTNBC (RR 1.33, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.56; heterogeneity P = 0.0010, I2 = 78%; n = 5; low‐quality evidence) and unselected for mTNBC (RR 1.11, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.19; heterogeneity P = 0.0002, I2 = 58%; n = 23; low‐quality evidence) (P = 0.05 for subgroup difference) (Analysis 1.3; Figure 6).

  • comparing 'regimen A + platinum vs regimen A' (RR 1.10, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.21; heterogeneity P = 0.009, I2 = 61%; n = 9), 'regimen A + platinum vs regimen B' (RR 1.22, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.33; heterogeneity P = 0.0002, I2 = 63%; n = 18) and 'single agent platinum vs regimen C' (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.66 to 1.17; n = 1) (P = 0.05 for subgroup difference) (Analysis 2.3).

  • using cisplatin (RR 1.35, 95% CI 1.24 to 1.46; heterogeneity P = 0.006, I2 = 53%; n = 17), carboplatin (RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.04; heterogeneity P = 0.10, I2 = 38%; n = 10) and oxaliplatin (RR 0.85, 95% CI 0.48 to 1.52; n = 1) as the platinum agent in the platinum regimen (P < 0.0001 for subgroup difference) (Analysis 3.3).

  • with no anthracycline in their platinum or non‐platinum regimens (RR 1.10, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.20; heterogeneity P < 0.0001, I2 = 65%; n = 18), an anthracycline in both the platinum and non‐platinum regimens (RR 1.09, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.22; heterogeneity P = 0.12, I2 = 42%; n = 6) and an anthracycline in the platinum regimen only (RR 1.49, 95% CI 1.28 to 1.74; heterogeneity P = 0.38, I2 = 2%; n = 4) (P = 0.002 for subgroup difference) (Analysis 5.3).

  • with no taxane in the platinum or non‐platinum regimens (RR 1.25, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.36; heterogeneity P = 0.009, I2 = 51%; n = 17), a taxane in both platinum and non‐platinum regimens (RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.12; heterogeneity P = 0.002, I2 = 74%; n = 6) and a taxane in the non‐platinum regimen only (RR 1.11, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.30; heterogeneity P = 0.02, I2 = 67%; n = 5) (P = 0.007 for subgroup difference) (Analysis 6.3).

The two other subgroup analyses showed no evidence of subgroup differences (P = 0.55, Analysis 4.3; and P = 0.94, Analysis 7.3).

Toxicity — safety populations

Treatment‐related death

Fifteen of the 28 included treatment‐comparisons assessed treatment‐related death and provided sufficient data for extraction. Of these 15 treatment‐comparisons, five had non‐estimable RRs due to no treatment‐related deaths and, consequently, did not contribute to the pooled estimates. For the 10 remaining treatment‐comparisons, 1688 out of 1759 (96%) randomised women were included in the safety populations, with 32 treatment‐related deaths. There was no significant difference between platinum and non‐platinum regimens in terms of treatment‐related death but the confidence interval was wide (RR 1.42, 95% CI 0.73 to 2.76; Analysis 3.4). There was no evidence of heterogeneity (P = 0.94, I2 = 0%).

No significant differences in pooled RRs were found according to the type of platinum agent used (P = 0.61).

Nausea/vomiting

Twenty‐one of the 28 included treatment‐comparisons assessed grade 3 and 4 nausea/vomiting with sufficient data for extraction. One treatment‐comparison had a non‐estimable RR due to there being no grade 3 or 4 cases. For the 20 remaining treatment‐comparisons, 3101 out of 3192 (97%) randomised women were included in the safety populations with 364 cases of grade 3 or 4 nausea/vomiting. Risk of grade 3 or 4 nausea/vomiting was significantly higher among women receiving platinum‐containing regimens (RR 2.07, 95% CI 1.69 to 2.54, P < 0.0001) but there was also considerable evidence of heterogeneity (P = 0.0003, I2 = 60%) (Analysis 3.5).

Subgroup analysis indicated that the increased risk of grade 3 or 4 nausea/vomiting for platinum recipients (compared to non‐platinum recipients) was primarily driven by cisplatin rather than carboplatin use. Specifically, there was a significant difference in the pooled RR for treatment‐comparisons using cisplatin (RR 2.65, 95% CI 2.10 to 3.34; n = 14; moderate‐quality evidence) rather than carboplatin (RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.47 to 1.26; n = 6; moderate‐quality evidence) in their platinum‐containing regimens (P < 0.0001 for subgroup difference). There was evidence of heterogeneity in the cisplatin (P = 0.008, I2 = 54%) but not the carboplatin (P = 0.30, I2 = 17%) subgroup.

Nephrotoxicity

Five of the 28 included treatment‐comparisons assessed grade 3 and 4 nephrotoxicity and reported sufficient data for extraction. One treatment‐comparison had a non‐estimable RR due to there being no grade 3 or 4 cases. For the four remaining treatment‐comparisons, 557 out of 571 (98%) randomised women were included in the safety populations, with 11 cases of grade 3 or 4 nephrotoxicity. Risk of grade 3 or 4 nephrotoxicity was more than three‐fold higher among women receiving platinum‐containing regimens, but this increase in risk was not significant (RR 3.06, 95% CI 0.86 to 10.84, P = 0.08) (Analysis 3.6). There was no evidence of heterogeneity (P = 0.92, I2 = 0%).

No significant differences in pooled RRs were found according to the type of platinum agent used (P = 0.65).

Anaemia

Twenty of the 28 included treatment‐comparisons assessed grade 3 and 4 anaemia with sufficient data for extraction. One treatment‐comparison had a non‐estimable RR due to there being no grade 3 or 4 anaemia cases. For the 19 remaining treatment‐comparisons, 3032 out of 3107 (98%) randomised women were included in the safety populations, with 176 cases of grade 3 or 4 anaemia. Risk of grade 3 or 4 anaemia was significantly higher among women receiving platinum‐containing regimens (RR 2.61, 95% CI 1.90 to 3.58, P < 0.0001) (Analysis 3.7). There was no evidence of heterogeneity (P = 0.41, I2 = 4%).

Subgroup analysis indicated that the increased risk of grade 3 or 4 anaemia for platinum recipients (compared to non‐platinum recipients) was worse for cisplatin recipients compared to carboplatin recipients. Specifically, there was a significant difference between the pooled RRs for treatment‐comparisons using cisplatin (RR 3.72, 95% CI 2.36 to 5.88; n =12; high‐quality evidence) rather than carboplatin (RR 1.72, 95% CI 1.10 to 2.70; n = 7; high‐quality evidence) in their platinum‐containing regimens (P = 0.02 for subgroup difference). There was no evidence of heterogeneity in the cisplatin or carboplatin subgroups (P = 0.50 and P = 0.67, respectively; I2 = 0% and I2 = 0%, respectively).

Hair Loss

Twelve of the 28 included treatment‐comparisons assessed grade 3 and 4 hair loss and reported sufficient data for extraction. Three treatment‐comparisons had a non‐estimable RR due to there being no grade 3 or 4 cases. For the nine remaining treatment‐comparisons, 1080 out of 1089 (99%) randomised women were included in the safety populations, with 469 cases of grade 3 or 4 hair loss. Risk of grade 3 or 4 hair loss was significantly higher among women receiving platinum‐containing regimens (RR 1.41, 95% CI 1.26 to 1.58, P < 0.0001; high‐quality evidence) (Analysis 3.8). There was some indication of heterogeneity (P = 0.10, I2 = 40%).

No significant differences in pooled RRs were found according to the type of platinum agent used (P = 0.23).

Leukopenia

Twenty‐two of the 28 included treatment‐comparisons assessed grade 3 and 4 leukopenia and reported sufficient data for extraction. One treatment‐comparison had a non‐estimable RR due to there being no grade 3 or 4 cases of leukopenia. For the 21 remaining treatment‐comparisons, 3123 out of 3222 (97%) randomised women were included in the safety populations, with 628 cases of grade 3 or 4 leukopenia. Risk of grade 3 or 4 leukopenia was significantly higher among women receiving platinum‐containing regimens (RR 1.38, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.57, P < 0.0001; moderate‐quality evidence) but with evidence of heterogeneity (P = 0.0002, I2 = 62%) (Analysis 3.9).

No significant differences in pooled RRs were found according to the type of platinum agent used (P = 0.21).

Quality of life

Three studies reported treatment effects on quality of life; Fountzilas 2004 (EORTC QLQ‐C30), Fountzilas 2009 (Fountzilas 2009 A; Fountzilas 2009 B) (EUROQOL EQ5D and EQ VAS) and Amadori 2013 (EORTC QLQ‐C30). However, quality of life results could not be pooled in a meta‐analysis because only one quality of life domain was common to two treatment‐comparisons (the EORTC QLQ‐C30 'global' domain reported by Fountzilas 2004 and Amadori 2013) and only one reported sufficient data for extraction (Amadori 2013) .

Fountzilas 2004 found paclitaxel/carboplatin was associated with an improvement both in the emotional functioning scale and in sleep disturbance symptoms compared with paclitaxel/epirubicin, but did not find significant group differences in any other quality of life domains assessed (physical role, cognitive, social, global quality of life, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, pain, dyspnoea, appetite loss, constipation, diarrhoea, financial impact). Fountzilas 2009 (Fountzilas 2009 A; Fountzilas 2009 B) found that changes in quality across time did not differ significantly between groups for the domains reported (EQ5D index and EQ VAS score). Amadori 2013 found that pemetrexed/carboplatin participants had significantly greater deterioration in global health status scores (follow‐up minus baseline scores) than vinorelbine/gemcitabine participants, but there was no significance difference in body image scores between groups.

Sensitivity analyses

Restricting the OTRR meta‐analysis to the 19 treatment‐comparisons with extractable data on OS had little impact on the pooled RR estimate (RR = 1.15 and RR = 1.13 in the original and sensitivity analyses, respectively). Restricting the OS and PFS/TTP meta‐analyses to the 12 treatment‐comparisons with extractable data on both OS and OS and PFS/TTP lowered the pooled HR estimate from HR = 0.98 to HR = 0.92 for OS, and from 0.85 to 0.80 for PFS/TTP. This represented a 6% reduction in the HR estimates for both OS and PFS/TTP and suggested that the relative difference between OS and PFS/TTP results was unlikely to be due to the different treatment‐comparisons available for the meta‐analysis of each outcome.

Stratifying PFS/TTP estimates according to whether the outcome was PFS or TTP suggested that platinum chemotherapy was more beneficial in terms of TTP than PFS, although the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.06). Repeating Analysis 1.1, and Analysis 1.2 using random‐effects methods did not appreciably change the point estimates for OS or PFS/TTP, but did produce slightly wider confidence intervals (Analysis 10.1; Analysis 10.2). Repeating Analysis 1.3 using a random‐effects model did not appreciably change the OTRR point estimate for participants unselected for mTNBC, but did increase the point estimate for mTNBC participants (from 1.33 to 1.60).

Discussion

Summary of main results

In this review update and consistent with the findings of the original review, our results did not show an OS benefit from platinum‐containing regimens compared to non‐platinum regimens for women with metastatic breast cancer 'in general' (i.e. without regard to subgroups). The confidence limits for the OS pooled HR estimate suggested that platinum‐containing regimens were unlikely to confer more than a 11% reduction in the risk of death and might increase the risk by up to 7%. The lack of an OS benefit for platinum‐containing regimens was somewhat at odds with the significant PFS/TTP and OTRR benefits observed in this review. Compared to women receiving non‐platinum regimens, those receiving platinum‐containing regimens had a 15% lower rate of progression or death (as measured by PFS/TTP) and a 15% higher rate of complete or partial tumour response. Sensitivity analyses indicated that the discrepancies between the OS and OTRR findings, and between the OS and PFS/TTP findings, were unlikely to be due to the different sets of treatment‐comparisons used in the various meta‐analyses of OS, PFS/TTP and OTRR. Rather, these discrepancies seemed more likely to be related to PFS/TTP and OTRR being somewhat poor surrogate outcomes for OS in metastatic breast cancer research (Burzykowski 2008), and perhaps also related to general difficulties in measuring tumour response. Given that OS is generally regarded as the outcome of choice for assessing treatment efficacy in metastatic breast cancer research (Burzykowski 2008) and given that this review now has a sufficient number of included studies to estimate the effects of treatments on OS with relatively high precision, we think that considerably more weight should be given to the OS results than the PFS/TTP or OTRR results.

In the absence of subgroup analyses, heterogeneity of effect estimates was observed for PFS/TTP, OTRR and, to a lesser degree, OS. With regards to OS and PFS/TTP, heterogeneity was explained to a large extent by the triple‐negative status of study participants. More specifically for OS, data from three treatment‐comparisons assessing mTNBC participants showed a 25% reduction in the risk of death for recipients of platinum‐containing regimens compared to recipients of non‐platinum regimens (P = 0.05). In absolute terms, this 25% risk ratio reduction corresponded to about 93 fewer deaths at one year after metastatic diagnosis for every 1000 mTNBC participants who received platinum‐containing chemotherapy, and about 105 fewer deaths at two years (summary of findings Table 2). In contrast, data from 16 treatment‐comparisons, assessing participants unselected for TNBC, showed similar risks of death among platinum and non‐platinum recipients (HR = 1.01). In relation to PFS/TTP, platinum‐containing regimens reduced the risk of death or progression, or both, by about 41% for mTNBC participants (P < 0.0001) but only by about 8% for participants unselected for mTNBC (P = 0.10). The difference between the pooled effect estimates of the mTNBC and 'unselected for mTNBC' subgroups was significant for PFS/TTP (P < 0.0001) and on the margins of statistical significance for OS (P = 0.05) and OTRR (P = 0.05).

While we also found a number of other statistically significant subgroup differences for OTRR and PFS/TTP (see Effects of interventions), it is difficult to judge the importance or reliability of these findings, given that similar differences were not observed in relation to OS.

Assessments of toxicity showed that women receiving platinum‐containing regimens experienced higher rates of grade 3 and 4 nausea/vomiting, anaemia, leukopenia and hair loss than women receiving non‐platinum regimens. Subgroup analysis indicated that the higher rate of grade 3 and 4 nausea/vomiting was associated with cisplatin but not carboplatin use, and the increased risk of grade 3 and 4 anaemia was higher for cisplatin recipients than for carboplatin recipients.

Overall completeness and applicability of evidence

This review now includes data from 24 studies relating to 28 treatment‐comparisons, with publications years ranging from 1984 to 2014. Of the 28 treatment‐comparisons,19 (68%) and 16 (57%) provided sufficient time‐to‐event data to be included in OS and PFS/TTP meta‐analyses, respectively. All 28 treatment‐comparisons provided OTRR data that could be included in meta‐analyses. A majority of treatment‐comparisons had sufficient data on treatment‐related death (n =15; 54%), nausea/vomiting (n =21; 75%), anaemia (n =20; 71%) and leukopenia (n =22; 79%) for inclusion in meta‐analyses. Five (18%) and 12 (43%) treatment‐comparisons had sufficient data on nephrotoxicity and hair loss for pooling, respectively. The evidence relating to treatment effects on quality of life remained almost wholly incomplete, with only three studies reporting quality of life results that could not be pooled in meta‐analysis.

Although data for the most important outcome (OS) was extractable for 68% of treatment‐comparisons, the evidence would clearly be more complete if OS data were extractable for all 28 treatment‐comparisons. Nonetheless, it is somewhat reassuring that sensitivity analyses restricting the OTRR meta‐analysis to the 19 treatment‐comparisons with extractable OS data did not appreciably change the OTRR pooled estimate of effect (RR=1.15 and RR=1.13 in the original and sensitivity analyses, respectively). This provides some evidence that the 'overall' pooled effect estimate for OS was unlikely to have changed substantively if OS data were extractable for all 28 treatment‐comparisons. It is important to note, however, that although the 'overall' pooled estimate of effect for OS appeared robust to the missing treatment‐comparisons, this may not be the case for smaller subgroups. For example, our finding of a significant OS benefit for mTNBC participants receiving platinum‐containing regimens ― based on data from only three treatment‐comparisons ― may have been different if we were able to include OS data from Tutt 2014 in the meta‐analysis. In this relatively large treatment‐comparison of mainly mTNBC participants, median OS times were similar in the platinum and non‐platinum groups.

The evidence in this review appeared to be generally applicable to the current practice of the treatment of metastatic breast cancer for a number of reasons. First, the platinum and non‐platinum regimens used in the included trials contained most chemotherapy drugs currently used in clinical practice to treat metastatic breast cancer, including cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, fluorouracil (CMF), trastuzumab and various anthracyclines and taxanes. Second, the review included trials of women receiving first‐line treatment and women receiving treatment after failure of previous anthracycline or taxane regimens. Third, the review was well populated with trials using the two most commonly used platinum agents for treating metastatic breast cancer ― carboplatin and cisplatin. While the review had only one trial using oxaliplatin as the platinum agent, oxaliplatin is not widely used in clinical practice for treating breast cancers. Fourth, this review update is the first to use meta‐analysis to synthesise the evidence on an issue of considerable interest and importance to clinical practice; namely, whether platinum‐based chemotherapies improved survival outcomes for mTNBC participants.

Quality of the evidence

Quality of evidence ratings relating to OS, PFS/TTP and OTRR effect estimates were graded separately for the subgroups of treatment‐comparisons with women unselected for mTNBC (summary of findings Table for the main comparison) and with mTNBC (summary of findings Table 2). We identified no problems using the GRADE assessment criteria in relation to the OS effect estimate for the 'unselected' subgroup; hence, the quality of the evidence for this estimate was rated 'high'. For the 'mTNBC' subgroup, the quality of the evidence rating for the OS effect estimate was downgraded two levels to 'low' for 'imprecision' (because the confidence interval for the pooled estimate was wide and close to the null) and for 'suspected publication bias' (because of the absence of Tutt 2014 from the OS meta‐analysis). The quality of the evidence ratings for PFS/TTP and OTRR effect estimates ranged from 'low' to 'moderate' across the 'unselected' and 'mTNBC' subgroups for reasons including 'indirectness', 'imprecision' , 'inconsistency' and 'suspected publication bias' (see summary of findings Table for the main comparison and summary of findings Table 2 for details).

Treatment effect estimates for four key toxicity outcomes were graded for quality of evidence (summary of findings Table 3). Gradings were stratified by 'type of platinum agent' (cisplatin or carboplatin) for nausea/vomiting and anaemia and not stratified for hair loss and leukopenia (because hair loss and leukopenia were not significantly related to 'type of platinum agent'). The quality of the evidence ratings were 'high' for hair loss and for anaemia (both cisplatin and carboplatin subgroups), and downgraded one level to 'moderate' for nausea/vomiting (both cisplatin and carboplatin subgroups) and leukopenia due to either 'imprecision' or 'inconsistency' (see summary of findings Table 3 for details).

Potential biases in the review process

Although it is possible that we may not have identified every eligible study with published results, study protocol or clinical trial registration, this seemed unlikely given our highly sensitive search strategies, including access to the Cochrane Breast Cancer Specialised Register maintained by the Cochrane Breast Cancer Group. A related but more insidious problem, however, was the risk of reporting bias arising from completed studies that never published their (largely) negative findings. While non‐publication of negative findings probably has occurred less frequently in recent years (due to increasing pressures to preregister clinical trials and publish results within reasonable time‐frames), many systematic reviews remain vulnerable to historical reporting bias. In this review, many of the included studies were conducted in an era when non‐publication of negative findings was more likely, but it seemed unlikely that this would have substantively affected our OS main finding, given that this finding was itself negative.

Agreements and disagreements with other studies or reviews

Petrelli 2016 recently published a systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomised trials to assess the efficacy and safety of therapy with platinum salts in participants with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. In their review, Petrelli reported overall pooled effect estimates similar to our estimates in terms of OS (HR = 0.91 vs HR = 0.98, respectively), PFS/TTP (HR = 0.84 vs HR = 0.85, respectively) and OTRR (odds ratio = 1.27 vs odds ratio = 1.33, respectively after recalculating our relative risk estimate into an odds ratio). It is important to note, however, that while the overall results of the two systematic reviews are similar, Petrelli 2016 included studies with 100% locally advanced participants whereas our review excluded studies with more than 20% of participants having isolated locoregional recurrence. In addition, our review extended the work of Petrelli through the inclusion of multiple additional subgroup analyses.

To our knowledge, there has been only one other systematic review of randomised trials comparing the effects of platinum and non‐platinum‐containing regimens among participants with mTNBC (Guan 2015). That review, however, only performed meta‐analyses of tumour response rates and not time‐to‐event outcomes. The OTRR meta‐analysis in Guan 2015 was comprised of three of the five mTNBC treatment‐comparisons included in the current review (Bhattacharyya 2009; Carey 2012; Fan 2012); the additional inclusion of Tutt 2014 and Hu 2015 in the current review resulted in a pooled OTRR estimate of effect (RR 1.33, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.56), significantly lower than that of Guan 2015 (RR 2.42, 95% CI 1.66 to 3.53).

Review update 2016: study flow diagram.
Figuras y tablas -
Figure 1

Review update 2016: study flow diagram.

Risk of bias summary: review authors' judgements about each risk of bias item for each included study.
Figuras y tablas -
Figure 2

Risk of bias summary: review authors' judgements about each risk of bias item for each included study.

Funnel plot 1: Overall survival (OS). Assessing publication bias and/or small‐study effects. Plot includes all treatment‐comparisons with extractable data for OS. The plot does not show asymmetry (Egger's test P value = 0.98)
Figuras y tablas -
Figure 3

Funnel plot 1: Overall survival (OS). Assessing publication bias and/or small‐study effects. Plot includes all treatment‐comparisons with extractable data for OS. The plot does not show asymmetry (Egger's test P value = 0.98)

Forest plot of comparison: 1 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 1: by treatment‐comparisons assessing mTNBC), outcome: 1.1 Overall survival.
Figuras y tablas -
Figure 4

Forest plot of comparison: 1 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 1: by treatment‐comparisons assessing mTNBC), outcome: 1.1 Overall survival.

Forest plot of comparison: 1 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 1: by treatment‐comparisons assessing mTNBC), outcome: 1.2 Progression‐free survival/time to progression.
Figuras y tablas -
Figure 5

Forest plot of comparison: 1 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 1: by treatment‐comparisons assessing mTNBC), outcome: 1.2 Progression‐free survival/time to progression.

Forest plot of comparison: 1 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 1: by treatment‐comparisons assessing mTNBC), outcome: 1.3 Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants).
Figuras y tablas -
Figure 6

Forest plot of comparison: 1 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 1: by treatment‐comparisons assessing mTNBC), outcome: 1.3 Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants).

Comparison 1 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 1: by treatment‐comparisons assessing mTNBC), Outcome 1 Overall survival.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 1.1

Comparison 1 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 1: by treatment‐comparisons assessing mTNBC), Outcome 1 Overall survival.

Comparison 1 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 1: by treatment‐comparisons assessing mTNBC), Outcome 2 Progression‐free survival/time to progression.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 1.2

Comparison 1 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 1: by treatment‐comparisons assessing mTNBC), Outcome 2 Progression‐free survival/time to progression.

Comparison 1 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 1: by treatment‐comparisons assessing mTNBC), Outcome 3 Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants).
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 1.3

Comparison 1 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 1: by treatment‐comparisons assessing mTNBC), Outcome 3 Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants).

Comparison 2 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 2: by type of regimen comparison), Outcome 1 Overall survival.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 2.1

Comparison 2 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 2: by type of regimen comparison), Outcome 1 Overall survival.

Comparison 2 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 2: by type of regimen comparison), Outcome 2 Progression‐free survival / time to progression.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 2.2

Comparison 2 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 2: by type of regimen comparison), Outcome 2 Progression‐free survival / time to progression.

Comparison 2 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 2: by type of regimen comparison), Outcome 3 Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants).
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 2.3

Comparison 2 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 2: by type of regimen comparison), Outcome 3 Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants).

Comparison 3 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 3: by type of platinum agent in platinum arm), Outcome 1 Overall survival.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 3.1

Comparison 3 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 3: by type of platinum agent in platinum arm), Outcome 1 Overall survival.

Comparison 3 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 3: by type of platinum agent in platinum arm), Outcome 2 Progression‐free survival/time to progression.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 3.2

Comparison 3 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 3: by type of platinum agent in platinum arm), Outcome 2 Progression‐free survival/time to progression.

Comparison 3 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 3: by type of platinum agent in platinum arm), Outcome 3 Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants).
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 3.3

Comparison 3 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 3: by type of platinum agent in platinum arm), Outcome 3 Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants).

Comparison 3 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 3: by type of platinum agent in platinum arm), Outcome 4 Treatment‐related death (safety population).
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 3.4

Comparison 3 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 3: by type of platinum agent in platinum arm), Outcome 4 Treatment‐related death (safety population).

Comparison 3 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 3: by type of platinum agent in platinum arm), Outcome 5 Nausea/vomiting (safety population).
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 3.5

Comparison 3 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 3: by type of platinum agent in platinum arm), Outcome 5 Nausea/vomiting (safety population).

Comparison 3 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 3: by type of platinum agent in platinum arm), Outcome 6 Nephrotoxicity (safety population).
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 3.6

Comparison 3 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 3: by type of platinum agent in platinum arm), Outcome 6 Nephrotoxicity (safety population).

Comparison 3 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 3: by type of platinum agent in platinum arm), Outcome 7 Anaemia (safety population).
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 3.7

Comparison 3 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 3: by type of platinum agent in platinum arm), Outcome 7 Anaemia (safety population).

Comparison 3 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 3: by type of platinum agent in platinum arm), Outcome 8 Hair loss (safety population).
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 3.8

Comparison 3 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 3: by type of platinum agent in platinum arm), Outcome 8 Hair loss (safety population).

Comparison 3 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 3: by type of platinum agent in platinum arm), Outcome 9 Leukopenia (safety population).
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 3.9

Comparison 3 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 3: by type of platinum agent in platinum arm), Outcome 9 Leukopenia (safety population).

Comparison 4 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 4: by first‐line therapy), Outcome 1 Overall survival.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 4.1

Comparison 4 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 4: by first‐line therapy), Outcome 1 Overall survival.

Comparison 4 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 4: by first‐line therapy), Outcome 2 Progression‐free survival/time to progression.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 4.2

Comparison 4 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 4: by first‐line therapy), Outcome 2 Progression‐free survival/time to progression.

Comparison 4 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 4: by first‐line therapy), Outcome 3 Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants).
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 4.3

Comparison 4 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 4: by first‐line therapy), Outcome 3 Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants).

Comparison 5 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 5 by anthracycline in regimens), Outcome 1 Overall survival.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 5.1

Comparison 5 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 5 by anthracycline in regimens), Outcome 1 Overall survival.

Comparison 5 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 5 by anthracycline in regimens), Outcome 2 Progression‐free survival/time to progression.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 5.2

Comparison 5 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 5 by anthracycline in regimens), Outcome 2 Progression‐free survival/time to progression.

Comparison 5 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 5 by anthracycline in regimens), Outcome 3 Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants).
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 5.3

Comparison 5 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 5 by anthracycline in regimens), Outcome 3 Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants).

Comparison 6 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 6: by taxane in regimens), Outcome 1 Overall survival.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 6.1

Comparison 6 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 6: by taxane in regimens), Outcome 1 Overall survival.

Comparison 6 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 6: by taxane in regimens), Outcome 2 Progression‐free survival / time to progression.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 6.2

Comparison 6 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 6: by taxane in regimens), Outcome 2 Progression‐free survival / time to progression.

Comparison 6 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 6: by taxane in regimens), Outcome 3 Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants).
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 6.3

Comparison 6 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 6: by taxane in regimens), Outcome 3 Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants).

Comparison 7 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 7: by trastuzumab in regimens), Outcome 1 Overall survival.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 7.1

Comparison 7 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 7: by trastuzumab in regimens), Outcome 1 Overall survival.

Comparison 7 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 7: by trastuzumab in regimens), Outcome 2 Progression‐free survival/time to progression.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 7.2

Comparison 7 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 7: by trastuzumab in regimens), Outcome 2 Progression‐free survival/time to progression.

Comparison 7 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 7: by trastuzumab in regimens), Outcome 3 Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants).
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 7.3

Comparison 7 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 7: by trastuzumab in regimens), Outcome 3 Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants).

Comparison 8 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (sensitivity analysis 1: excluding selected treatment‐comparisons), Outcome 1 Overall survival (restricted to the 12 treatment‐comparisons common to OS and PFS/TTP meta‐analyses).
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 8.1

Comparison 8 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (sensitivity analysis 1: excluding selected treatment‐comparisons), Outcome 1 Overall survival (restricted to the 12 treatment‐comparisons common to OS and PFS/TTP meta‐analyses).

Comparison 8 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (sensitivity analysis 1: excluding selected treatment‐comparisons), Outcome 2 Progression‐free survival/time to progression (restricted to the 12 treatment‐comparisons common to OS and PFS/TTP meta‐analyses).
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 8.2

Comparison 8 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (sensitivity analysis 1: excluding selected treatment‐comparisons), Outcome 2 Progression‐free survival/time to progression (restricted to the 12 treatment‐comparisons common to OS and PFS/TTP meta‐analyses).

Comparison 8 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (sensitivity analysis 1: excluding selected treatment‐comparisons), Outcome 3 Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants‐ restricted to the 19 treatment‐comparisons in OS meta‐analyses).
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 8.3

Comparison 8 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (sensitivity analysis 1: excluding selected treatment‐comparisons), Outcome 3 Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants‐ restricted to the 19 treatment‐comparisons in OS meta‐analyses).

Comparison 9 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (sensitivity analysis 2: Progression‐free survival vs. time to progression), Outcome 1 Progression‐free survival vs time to progression.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 9.1

Comparison 9 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (sensitivity analysis 2: Progression‐free survival vs. time to progression), Outcome 1 Progression‐free survival vs time to progression.

Comparison 10 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (sensitivity analysis 3: Analyses 1 repeated but with random effects approach), Outcome 1 Overall survival.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 10.1

Comparison 10 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (sensitivity analysis 3: Analyses 1 repeated but with random effects approach), Outcome 1 Overall survival.

Comparison 10 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (sensitivity analysis 3: Analyses 1 repeated but with random effects approach), Outcome 2 Progression‐free survival/time to progression.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 10.2

Comparison 10 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (sensitivity analysis 3: Analyses 1 repeated but with random effects approach), Outcome 2 Progression‐free survival/time to progression.

Comparison 10 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (sensitivity analysis 3: Analyses 1 repeated but with random effects approach), Outcome 3 Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants).
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 10.3

Comparison 10 Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (sensitivity analysis 3: Analyses 1 repeated but with random effects approach), Outcome 3 Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants).

Summary of findings for the main comparison. Platinum‐containing regimens for women with metastatic breast cancer unselected for triple‐negative disease

Platinum compared to non‐platinum chemotherapy regimens for women with metastatic breast cancer unselected for triple‐negative disease

Patient or population: women with metastatic breast cancer unselected for triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC)
Setting: hospital
Intervention: platinum
Comparison: non‐platinum chemotherapy regimens

Outcomes

Anticipated absolute effects* (95% CI)

Relative effect
(95% CI)

No. of participants (treatment‐ comparisons)

Quality of the evidence
(GRADE)

Comments

Risk with non‐platinum chemotherapy regimens

Risk with platinum

Overall survival ‐ trials of metastatic breast cancer participants unselected for TNBC

1‐year risk of death

HR 1.01
(0.92 to 1.12)

2531 (16)

⊕⊕⊕⊕
HIGH3

Heterogeneity: P = 0.09, I2=34%

310 per 1,000 1

313 per 1,000
(289 to 340)2

2‐year risk of death

540 per 1,000 1

543 per 1,000
(510 to 581)2

Progression‐free survival/time to progression (randomised participants) ‐ trials of metastatic breast cancer participants unselected for TNBC

1‐year risk of progression or death

HR 0.92
(0.84 to 1.01)

1745 (13)

⊕⊕⊕⊝
MODERATE4

Heterogeneity: P = 0.08, I2=38%

737 per 1,000 1

707 per 1,000
(674 to 740)2

2‐year risk of progression or death

891 per 1,000 1

869 per 1,000
(844 to 893)2

Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants) ‐ trials of metastatic breast cancer participants unselected for TNBC

493 per 1,000 5

547 per 1,000
(512 to 586)

RR 1.11
(1.04 to 1.19)

3252 (23)

⊕⊕⊝⊝
LOW4,6

Heterogeneity: P = 0.0002, I2=58%

*The risk in the intervention group (and its 95% confidence interval) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI).

CI: Confidence interval; RR: Risk ratio; HR: Hazard ratio;

GRADE Working Group grades of evidence
High quality: We are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect
Moderate quality: We are moderately confident in the effect estimate: The true effect is likely to be close to the estimate of the effect, but there is a possibility that it is substantially different
Low quality: Our confidence in the effect estimate is limited: The true effect may be substantially different from the estimate of the effect
Very low quality: We have very little confidence in the effect estimate: The true effect is likely to be substantially different from the estimate of effect

1 Estimated from the average of non‐platinum group Kaplan‐Meier probabilities from the three highest weighted non‐TNBC treatment‐comparisons for this outcome

2 Estimated as 1000*(1‐S(t)HR) where S(t) is the estimated probability of survival for non‐platinum participants and HR is the pooled hazard ratio (Davies 1998)

3 Quality of evidence for OS was not downgraded for blinding because this outcome is unlikely to be affected by non‐blinding.

4 Downgraded quality of evidence one level for 'indirectness' because this outcome is a surrogate endpoint of questionable validity for assessing the more important outcome of OS in the context of metastatic breast cancer (Burzykowski 2008)

5 Estimated from all 23 non‐TNBC treatment‐comparisons in the review

6 Downgraded quality of evidence one level for 'inconsistency' because there was substantial evidence of heterogeneity across studies (P < 0.05)

Figuras y tablas -
Summary of findings for the main comparison. Platinum‐containing regimens for women with metastatic breast cancer unselected for triple‐negative disease
Summary of findings 2. Platinum‐containing regimens for women with metastatic triple‐negative breast cancer

Platinum compared to non‐platinum chemotherapy regimens for women with metastatic triple‐negative breast cancer

Patient or population: women with metastatic triple‐negative breast cancer (mTNBC)
Setting: hospital
Intervention: platinum
Comparison: non‐platinum chemotherapy regimens

Outcomes

Anticipated absolute effects* (95% CI)

Relative effect
(95% CI)

No. of participants (treatment‐ comparisons)

Quality of the evidence
(GRADE)

Comments

Risk with non‐platinum chemotherapy regimens

Risk with platinum

Overall survival ‐ trials of mTNBC participants

1‐year risk of death

HR 0.75
(0.57 to 1.00)

391 (3)

⊕⊕⊝⊝
LOW3,4,5

Heterogeneity: P = 0.23, I2 = 32%

485 per 1,000 1

392 per 1,000
(315 to 485)2

2‐year risk of death

655 per 1,000 1

550 per 1,000
(455 to 655)2

Progression‐free survival/time to progression (randomised participants) ‐ trials of mTNBC participants

1‐year risk of death

HR 0.59
(0.49 to 0.72)

391 (3)

⊕⊕⊝⊝
LOW4,6

Heterogeneity: P = 0.07, I2 = 67%

894 per 1,000 1

733 per 1,000
(667 to 801)2

2‐year risk of death

987 per 1,000 1

922 per 1,000
(879 to 955)2

Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants) ‐ trials of mTNBC participants

354 per 1,0007

470 per 1,000
(400 to 552)

RR 1.33
(1.13 to 1.56)

878 (5)

⊕⊕⊝⊝
LOW6,8

Heterogeneity: P = 0.0010, I2 = 78%

*The risk in the intervention group (and its 95% confidence interval) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI).

CI: Confidence interval; RR: Risk ratio; HR: Hazard ratio;

GRADE Working Group grades of evidence
High quality: We are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect
Moderate quality: We are moderately confident in the effect estimate: The true effect is likely to be close to the estimate of the effect, but there is a possibility that it is substantially different
Low quality: Our confidence in the effect estimate is limited: The true effect may be substantially different from the estimate of the effect
Very low quality: We have very little confidence in the effect estimate: The true effect is likely to be substantially different from the estimate of effect

1 Estimated from the average of non‐platinum group Kaplan‐Meier probabilities from the three TNBC treatment‐comparisons contributing data for pooling on this outcome

2 Estimated as 1000*(1‐S(t)HR) where S(t) is the estimated probability of survival for non‐platinum participants and HR is the pooled hazard ratio (Davies 1998)

3 Downgraded quality of evidence one level for 'imprecision' because the confidence interval for the pooled estimate is wide and crosses or nearly crosses unity

4 Downgraded quality of evidence one level for 'suspected publication bias' because Tutt 2014 is a large study with 376 participants but has so far only reported median OS/PFS times. As a consequence, the study did not contribute to the pooled HR estimates for OS or PFS/TTP. The reported median OS/PFS times in Tutt 2014 were similar between platinum and non‐platinum regimens. Hence, it seems likely that if HRs from Tutt 2014 were able to be included in pooled HR estimates, these pooled estimates would be considerably closer to the null.

5 Quality of evidence for OS was not downgraded for blinding because this outcome is unlikely to be affected by non‐blinding.

6 Downgraded quality of evidence one level for 'indirectness' because this outcome is a surrogate endpoint of questionable validity for assessing the more important outcome of OS in the context of metastatic breast cancer (Burzykowski 2008)

7Estimated from all five TNBC treatment‐comparisons in the review

8 Downgraded quality of evidence one level for 'inconsistency' because there was substantial evidence of heterogeneity across studies (P < 0.05)

Figuras y tablas -
Summary of findings 2. Platinum‐containing regimens for women with metastatic triple‐negative breast cancer
Summary of findings 3. Platinum‐containing regimens and toxicity profile

Platinum compared to non‐platinum chemotherapy regimens for nausea/vomiting, anaemia, hair loss and leukopenia

Patient or population: women with metastatic breast cancer
Setting: hospital
Intervention: platinum
Comparison: non‐platinum chemotherapy regimens

Outcomes

Anticipated absolute effects* (95% CI)

Relative effect
(95% CI)

No. of participants (treatment‐ comparisons)

Quality of the evidence
(GRADE)

Comments

Risk with non‐platinum chemotherapy regimens

Risk with platinum

Nausea/vomiting* grade 3 or 4 (safety population) by type of platinum agent in platinum regimen

Carboplatin

(RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.47 to 1.26)

1441 (7)

⊕⊕⊕⊝
MODERATE2

Test for carboplatin/cisplatin subgroup difference: P < 0.0001

Heterogeneity among carboplatin studies: P = 0.30, I2 = 17%

Heterogeneity among cisplatin studies: P = 0.010, I2 = 32%

80 per 1,000 1

62 per 1,000
(59 to 101)

Cisplatin

(RR 2.65, 95% CI 2.10 to 3.34)

1747 (14)

⊕⊕⊕⊝
MODERATE3

80 per 1,000 1

210 per 1,000
(167 to 266)

Anaemia grade 3 or 4 (safety population) by type of platinum agent in platinum regimen

Carboplatin

(RR 1.72, 95% CI 1.10 to 2.70)

1441 (7)

⊕⊕⊕⊕
HIGH

Test for carboplatin/cisplatin subgroup difference: P = 0.02

Heterogeneity among carboplatin studies: P = 0.67, I2 = 0%

Heterogeneity among cisplatin studies: P = 0.50, I2 = 0%

33 per 1,000 1

57 per 1,000
(36 to 89)

Cisplatin

(RR 3.72, 95% CI 2.36 to 5.88)

1644 (13)

⊕⊕⊕⊕

HIGH

33 per 1,000 1

123 per 1,000
(78 to 194)

Hair loss grade 3 or 4 (safety population)

Carboplatin or cisplatin

(RR 1.41, 95% CI 1.26 to 1.58)

1452 (13)

⊕⊕⊕⊕
HIGH

Test for carboplatin/cisplatin subgroup difference: P = 0.23

Heterogeneity: P = 0.10, I2 = 40%

264 per 1,000 1

372 per 1,000
(333 to 417)

Leukopenia** grade 3 or 4 (safety population)

Carboplatin or cisplatin

(RR 1.38, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.57)

3176 (22)

⊕⊕⊕⊝
MODERATE3

Test for carboplatin/cisplatin subgroup difference: P = 0.22

Heterogeneity: P = 0.0002, I2 = 60%

179 per 1,000 1

247 per 1,000 (217 to 281)

*The risk in the intervention group (and its 95% confidence interval) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI).

CI: Confidence interval; RR: Risk ratio; HR: Hazard ratio;

GRADE Working Group grades of evidence
High quality: We are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect
Moderate quality: We are moderately confident in the effect estimate: The true effect is likely to be close to the estimate of the effect, but there is a possibility that it is substantially different
Low quality: Our confidence in the effect estimate is limited: The true effect may be substantially different from the estimate of the effect
Very low quality: We have very little confidence in the effect estimate: The true effect is likely to be substantially different from the estimate of effect

1 Estimated from all treatment‐comparisons (cisplatin and carboplatin) contributing data for pooling for this outcome

2 Downgraded quality of evidence one level for 'imprecision' because the confidence interval for the pooled estimate is wide and does not rule out 'no effect'

3 Downgraded quality of evidence one level for 'inconsistency' because there was substantial evidence of heterogeneity across studies (P < 0.05)

*data on vomiting was included if data on nausea/vomiting was reported separately

**data on neutropenia was included if data on leukopenia was not reported

Figuras y tablas -
Summary of findings 3. Platinum‐containing regimens and toxicity profile
Table 1. Platinum agents

Generic name

Other names

Carboplatin

Blastocarb, Carboplat, Carboplatin Hexal, Carboplatino, Carbosin, Carbosol, Carbotec, CBDCA, Displata, Ercar, Nealorin, Novoplatinum, Paraplat, Paraplatin AQ, Paraplatin, Paraplatine, Platinwas, Ribocarbo

Cisplatin

Abiplatin, Blastolem, Briplatin,CACP, CDDP, cis‐DDP, cis‐diamminedichloridoplatinum, cis‐diamminedichloro platinum (II), cis‐diamminedichloroplatinum, Cis‐dichloroammine Platinum (II), Cismaplat, Cisplatina, cis‐platinous diamine dichloride, cis‐platinum II diamine dichloride, cis‐platinum II, cis‐platinum, Cisplatyl, Citoplatino, Citosin, CPDD, Cysplatyna, DDP, DDP, Lederplatin, Metaplatin, Neoplatin, PDD, Peyrone's Chloride, Peyrone's Salt, Placis, Platamine, Platiblastin, Platiblastin‐S, Platinex, Platinol‐ AQ, Platinol, Platinol‐AQ VHA Plus, Platinol‐AQ, Platinoxan, platinum diamminodichloride, Platiran, Platistin, Platosin

Oxaliplatin

Ai Heng, Aiheng, diaminocyclohexane oxalatoplatinum, oxalatoplatin, oxalatoplatinum, oxaliplatine, Eloxatin, Dacotin, Dacplat, Eloxatine, 1‐OHP, L‐OHP, oxaliplatin medac

Figuras y tablas -
Table 1. Platinum agents
Table 2. Chemotherapeutic Agents (adapted from Table 1.1 in The Chemotherapy Source Book)

Type of Agent

Action

Includes

Agents that damage the DNA template

by alkylation: nitrogen mustards

cyclophosphamide, melphalan, ifosfamide, chlorambucil

by alkylation: nitrosureas

carmustine (BCNU), lomustine (CCNU)

by alkylation: other agents

thiotepa, mitomycin C

by platinum coordination cross‐linking

cisplatin, carboplatin

antibiotics

doxorubicin, daunorubicin, mitoxantrone, idarubicin, epirubicin, amsacrine

podophyllotoxins

etoposide, teniposide

by intercalation

dactinomycin, mithramycin

by uncertain mechanisms

bleomycin

Spindle poisons

vinca alkaloids

vincristine, vinblastine, vendesine, vinorelbine

taxanes

taxol, taxotere

Antimetabolites

thymidylate synthase

5‐fluorouracil

dihydrofolate reductase

methotrexate

Figuras y tablas -
Table 2. Chemotherapeutic Agents (adapted from Table 1.1 in The Chemotherapy Source Book)
Table 3. Number of treatment‐comparisons included in meta‐analyses by subgroup and three outcomes

Outcome

Subgroup

Treatment‐

comparisons

N

Overall

survival

n (% of N)

Progression

‐free

survival/time to

progression

n (% of N)

Objective

response

rate

n (% of N)

Overall:

28

19 (68%)

16 (57%)

28 (100%)

Type of platinum agent in platinum arm:

Cisplatin in platinum arm

17

11 (65%)

11 (65%)

17 (100%)

Carboplatin in platinum arm

10

8 (80%)

5 (50%)

10 (100%)

Oxaliplatin in platinum arm

1

(0%)

(0%)

1 (100%)

Type of regimen comparison:

Regimen A + platinum agent vs regimen A

9

6 (67%)

6 (67%)

9 (100%)

Regimen A + platinum agent vs regimen B

18

13 (72%)

10 (56%)

18 (100%)

Single agent platinum vs regimen C

1

(0%)

(0%)

1 (100%)

First‐line therapy:

First‐line therapy for > 80% of participants

20

15 (75%)

11 (55%)

20 (100%)

Second‐ or third‐line therapy for ≥ 20% of participants

8

4 (50%)

5 (63%)

8 (100%)

Participant selection for mTNBC:

Participants with mTNBC

5

3 (60%)

3 (60%)

5 (100%)

Participants unselected for mTNBC

23

16 (70%)

13 (57%)

23 (100%)

Anthracycline in regimens:

No anthracycline in platinum or non‐platinum regimens

18

14 (78%)

11 (61%)

18 (100%)

Platinum + anthracycline vs non‐platinum + anthracycline regimens

6

3 (50%)

4 (67%)

6 (100%)

Platinum + anthracycline vs non‐platinum + non‐anthracycline regimens

4

2 (50%)

1 (25%)

4 (100%)

Taxane in regimens:

No taxane in platinum or non‐platinum regimens

17

9 (53%)

9 (53%)

17 (100%)

Platinum + taxane vs non‐platinum + taxane regimens

6

6 (100%)

3 (50%)

6 (100%)

Platinum + non‐taxane vs non‐platinum + taxane regimens

5

4 (80%)

4 (80%)

5 (100%)

Trastuzumab in regimens:

No trastuzumab in platinum or non‐platinum regimens

26

17 (65%)

14 (54%)

26 (100%)

Platinum + trastuzumab vs non‐platinum + trastuzumab regimens

2

2 (100%)

2 (100%)

2 (100%)

Figuras y tablas -
Table 3. Number of treatment‐comparisons included in meta‐analyses by subgroup and three outcomes
Table 4. Summary of regimens included in the analysis

Trials ID

Arm 1 (platinum‐containing)

Arm 2 (control)

First‐line therapy for > 80% of participants

Majority participants anthracycline‐naive

Regimen A + platinum vs regimen A

Berruti 2002 A

Epi + Cis (epirubicin+cisplatin)

Epi (epirubicin)

Y

Y

Berruti 2002 B

Epi + Cis + LND (epirubicin+cisplatin+lonidamine)

Epi + LND (epirubicin + lonidamine)

Y

Y

Bhattacharyya 2009

Endoxan 50 mg per day at 10 am and methotrexate 2.5 mg twice a day at 9 am and 5 pm and with 'cisplatinum'

Endoxan 50 mg per day at 10 am and methotrexate 2.5 mg twice a day at 9 am and 5 pm

N

N

Carey 2012

C + Cb (Cetuximab + carboplatin)

C (Cetuximab with carboplatin added after progression)

N

N

Costanza 1999

CBDA + CAF (carboplatin + cycloheximide + doxorubicin + fluorouracil + methotrexate)

CAF (cycloheximide + doxorubicin + fluorouracil)

(methotrexate substituted after total doxorubicin ‐ 540 mg)

Y

Unclear

Fountzilas 2009 A

PCb (paclitaxel + carboplatin)

Pw (paclitaxel)

Y

N

Nielsen 2000

Epi + Cis (epirubicin + cisplatin)

Epi (epirubicin)

Y

Y

Robert 2006

TPC (trastuzumab + paclitaxel + carboplatin)

TP (trastuzumab + paclitaxel)

Y

Unclear

Valero 2011

TCH (trastuzumab + docetaxel + carboplatin)

TH (trastuzumab + docetaxel)

Y

N

Regimen A + platinum vs regimen B

Amadori 2013

(pemetrexed + carboplatin)

(vinorelbine + gemcitabine)

N

N

Cocconi 1991

MPEPIV(a) or MPEMi (b) (a: methotrexate, leucovorin, cisplatin, epirubicin, vincristine; b: methotrexate, leucovorin, cisplatin, etoposide, mitomycin)

CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, fluorouracil)

Y

Y

Cocconi 1996

Etop + Cis (etoposide + cisplatin)

CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, fluorouracil)

Y

Unclear

Cocconi 1999

PE + CMF + AL (cisplatin + etoposide + doxorubicin + cyclophosphamide, methotrexate + fluorouracil, lecovorin + allopurinol)

CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, fluorouracil)

Y

Unclear

Creagan 1984

CFP + CAP (cyclophosphamide + doxorubicin + cis‐dichlordiammine + CFP)

CFP (cyclophosphamide + fluorouracil + prednisone)

Y

Y

Delaloge 2004

OXA (oxaliplatin + 5‐flurouracil)

VIN (vinorelbine)

N

N

Eisen 1998

EcisF (5‐flurouracil + epirubicin + cisplatin)

EcycloF (5‐flurouracil + epirubicin + cyclophosphamide)

Y

Y

Fan 2012

TP (docetaxel + cisplatin)

TX (docetaxel + capecitabine)

Y

N

Fountzilas 2004

Epi + Pcb (epirubicin + carboplatin)

Epi + P (epirubicin + paclitaxel)

Y

Y (54%)

Fountzilas 2009 B

PCb (paclitaxel + carboplatin)

GDoc (docetaxel + gemcitabine)

Y

N

Hu 2015

(cisplatin + gemcitabine)

(paclitaxel + gemcitabine)

Y

N

Icli 2005

Etop + Cis (etoposide + cisplatin)

P (paclitaxel)

N

N

Kolaric 1985

CAP (cyclophosphamide + doxorubicin + platinum)

CMFVP (cyclophosphamide + methotrexate + 5‐fluorouracil + vincristine + prednisone)

Y

Y

Kolaric 1989

CAP (cyclophosphamide + doxorubicin +platinum)

FAC (5‐flurouracil + doxorubicin +

cyclophosphamide)

Y

Y

Stemmler 2011 A

GemCis (gemcitabine + cisplatin)

GemVin (gemcitabine + vinorelbine)

N

N

Stemmler 2011 B

GemCis (gemcitabine + cisplatin)

GemCap (gemcitabine + capecitabine)

N

N

Xu 2011 A

GemCis (gemcitabine + cisplatin)

GemPac (gemcitabine + paclitaxel)

Y

N

Xu 2011 B

GemCarb (gemcitabine + carboplatin)

GemPac (gemcitabine + paclitaxel)

Y

N

Single agent platinum vs regimen C

Tutt 2014

C (carboplatin)

D (docetaxel)

N

Unclear

Figuras y tablas -
Table 4. Summary of regimens included in the analysis
Table 5. Summary of outcomes for included trials

Trial ID

Extractable OS data for HR estimation1

Median OS time2

Extractable PFS/TTP data for HR estimation1

Median PFS/TTP time2

Overall response

Treatment‐related deaths

Grade III & IV Toxicity

Accrual3

Regimen A + platinum vs regimen A

Berruti 2002 A

NR

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Nausea/vomiting

Nephrotoxicity

Anaemia

Leukopenia

185

Berruti 2002 B

NR

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Nausea/vomiting

Nephrotoxicity

Anaemia

Leukopenia

186

Bhattacharyya 2009

NR

Y

NR

Y

Y

NR

NR

126

Carey 2012

Y

Y

Y

NR

Y

NR

Not extractable

102

Costanza 1999

Y

Y

NR

NR

Y

Y

Nausea/vomiting

Anaemia

Leukopenia

221

Fountzilas 2009 A

Y

Y

NR

NR

Y

Y

Nausea/vomiting

Anaemia

Hair loss

Leukopenia

204

Nielsen 2000

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Nausea/vomiting

Leukopenia

155

Robert 2006

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

NR

Nausea/vomiting

Anaemia

Leukopenia

196

Valero 2011

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Nausea/vomiting

Anaemia

263

Regimen A + platinum vs regimen B

Amadori 2013

NR

NR

Y

Y

Y

Y

Leukopenia

135

Cocconi 1991

Y

Y

NR

Y

Y

NR

Anaemia

Leukopenia

140

Cocconi 1999

Y

Y

NR

Y

Y

NR

Nausea/vomiting

Anaemia

Hair loss

Leukopenia

105

Cocconi 1996

NR

Y

NR

Y

Y

DU

Not extractable

169

Creagan 1984

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

NR

Nausea/vomiting

Hair loss

Leukopenia

86

Delaloge 2004

NR

Y

NR

Y

Y

Y

Not extractable

137

Eisen 1998

NR

Y

Y

Y

Y

DU

Nausea/vomiting

Anaemia

Hair loss

Leukopenia

59

Fan 2012

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Nausea/vomiting

Anaemia

Leukopenia

53

Fountzilas 2004

Y

NR

NR

NR

Y

NR

Nausea/vomiting

Anaemia

Leukopenia

327

Fountzilas 2009 B

Y

Y

NR

NR

Y

Y

Nausea/vomiting

Anaemia

Hair loss

Leukopenia

212

Hu 2015

Y

NR

Y

Y

Y

Y

Nausea/vomiting

Anaemia

Hair loss

Leukopenia

236

Icli 2005

Y

Y

Y

NR

Y

Y

Nausea/vomiting

Anaemia

Leukopenia

193

Kolaric 1985

NR

NR

NR

NR

Y

NR

Nausea/vomiting

Nephrotoxicity

Anaemia

Hair loss

Leukopenia

123

Kolaric 1989

Y

Y

NR

NR

Y

Y

Nausea/vomiting

Anaemia

Hair loss

Leukopenia

142

Stemmler 2011 A

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

NR

Nausea/vomiting

Anaemia

Hair loss

Leukopenia

69

Stemmler 2011 B

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

NR

Nausea/vomiting

Anaemia

Hair loss

Leukopenia

72

Xu 2011 A

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Nausea/vomiting

Nephrotoxicity

Anaemia

Hair loss

Leukopenia

75

Xu 2011 B

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Nausea/vomiting

Nephrotoxicity

Anaemia

Hair loss

Leukopenia

71

Single agent platinum vs regimen C

Tutt 2014

NR

Y

NR

Y

Y

NR

NR

376

1 Sufficient data reported to estimate a HR for pooling as outlined by Parmar 1998 and Tierney 2007; this includes Kapalan‐Meier curve, HR and standard error/confidence interval or logrank statistics

2 Trials that did not explicitly report median time were classified as NR here regardless of estimable median time from Kaplan‐Meier curve

3 Accrual numbers represent the maximum numbers of participants in the trial (not study) that were included in the analyses of OS, PFS/TTP or OR (assessable participants).

*NR = not reported, DU = deaths unexplained, Y = data reported.

Figuras y tablas -
Table 5. Summary of outcomes for included trials
Comparison 1. Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 1: by treatment‐comparisons assessing mTNBC)

Outcome or subgroup title

No. of studies

No. of participants

Statistical method

Effect size

1 Overall survival Show forest plot

19

2922

HR (95% CI)

0.98 [0.89, 1.07]

1.1 Treatment‐comparisons assessing patients with mTNBC

3

391

HR (95% CI)

0.75 [0.57, 1.00]

1.2 Treatment‐comparisons assessing patients unselected for mTNBC

16

2531

HR (95% CI)

1.01 [0.92, 1.12]

2 Progression‐free survival/time to progression Show forest plot

16

2136

HR (95% CI)

0.85 [0.78, 0.93]

2.1 Treatment‐comparisons assessing patients with mTNBC

3

391

HR (95% CI)

0.59 [0.49, 0.72]

2.2 Treatment‐comparisons assessing patients unselected for mTNBC

13

1745

HR (95% CI)

0.92 [0.84, 1.01]

3 Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants) Show forest plot

28

4130

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.15 [1.08, 1.22]

3.1 Treatment‐comparisons assessing patients with mTNBC

5

878

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.33 [1.13, 1.56]

3.2 Treatment‐comparisons assessing patients unselected for mTNBC

23

3252

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.11 [1.04, 1.19]

Figuras y tablas -
Comparison 1. Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 1: by treatment‐comparisons assessing mTNBC)
Comparison 2. Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 2: by type of regimen comparison)

Outcome or subgroup title

No. of studies

No. of participants

Statistical method

Effect size

1 Overall survival Show forest plot

19

2922

HR (95% CI)

0.98 [0.89, 1.07]

1.1 Regimen A + platinum agent vs regimen A

6

1141

HR (95% CI)

1.08 [0.93, 1.26]

1.2 Regimen A + platinum agent vs regimen B

13

1781

HR (95% CI)

0.92 [0.81, 1.03]

2 Progression‐free survival / time to progression Show forest plot

16

2136

HR (95% CI)

0.85 [0.78, 0.93]

2.1 Regimen A+platinum agent vs regimen A

6

1087

HR (95% CI)

0.88 [0.78, 1.00]

2.2 Regimen A+platinum agent vs regimen B

10

1049

HR (95% CI)

0.83 [0.74, 0.93]

3 Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants) Show forest plot

28

4130

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.15 [1.08, 1.22]

3.1 Regimen A + platinum agent vs regimen A

9

1519

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.10 [1.01, 1.21]

3.2 Regimen A + platinum agent vs regimen B

18

2235

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.22 [1.12, 1.33]

3.3 Single agent platinum vs regimen C

1

376

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

0.88 [0.66, 1.17]

Figuras y tablas -
Comparison 2. Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 2: by type of regimen comparison)
Comparison 3. Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 3: by type of platinum agent in platinum arm)

Outcome or subgroup title

No. of studies

No. of participants

Statistical method

Effect size

1 Overall survival Show forest plot

19

2922

HR (95% CI)

0.98 [0.89, 1.07]

1.1 Cisplatin in platinum arm

11

1326

HR (95% CI)

0.91 [0.80, 1.05]

1.2 Carboplatin in platinum arm

8

1596

HR (95% CI)

1.04 [0.91, 1.18]

2 Progression‐free survival/time to progression Show forest plot

16

2136

HR (95% CI)

0.85 [0.78, 0.93]

2.1 Cisplatin in platinum arm

11

1369

HR (95% CI)

0.85 [0.76, 0.94]

2.2 Carboplatin in platinum arm

5

767

HR (95% CI)

0.86 [0.75, 0.99]

3 Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants) Show forest plot

28

4130

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.15 [1.08, 1.22]

3.1 Cisplatin in platinum arm

17

2050

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.35 [1.24, 1.46]

3.2 Carboplatin in platinum arm

10

1943

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

0.94 [0.86, 1.04]

3.3 Oxaliplatin in platinum arm

1

137

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

0.85 [0.48, 1.52]

4 Treatment‐related death (safety population) Show forest plot

15

2377

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.42 [0.73, 2.76]

4.1 Cisplatin in platinum arm

8

1185

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.39 [0.59, 3.25]

4.2 Carboplatin in platinum arm

6

1055

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.86 [0.57, 6.05]

4.3 Oxaliplatin in platinum arm

1

137

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

0.34 [0.01, 8.16]

5 Nausea/vomiting (safety population) Show forest plot

21

3172

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

2.07 [1.69, 2.54]

5.1 Cisplatin in platinum arm

14

1731

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

2.65 [2.10, 3.34]

5.2 Carboplatin in platinum arm

7

1441

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

0.77 [0.47, 1.26]

6 Nephrotoxicity (safety population) Show forest plot

5

632

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

3.06 [0.86, 10.84]

6.1 Cisplatin in platinum arm

4

561

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

3.46 [0.86, 13.97]

6.2 Carboplatin in platinum arm

1

71

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.56 [0.07, 36.97]

7 Anaemia (safety population) Show forest plot

20

3085

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

2.61 [1.90, 3.58]

7.1 Cisplatin in platinum arm

13

1644

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

3.72 [2.36, 5.88]

7.2 Carboplatin in platinum arm

7

1441

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.72 [1.10, 2.70]

8 Hair loss (safety population) Show forest plot

12

1452

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.41 [1.26, 1.58]

8.1 Cisplatin in platinum arm

9

983

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.33 [1.15, 1.54]

8.2 Carboplatin in platinum arm

3

469

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.53 [1.28, 1.84]

9 Leukopenia (safety population) Show forest plot

22

3176

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.38 [1.21, 1.57]

9.1 Cisplatin in platinum arm

15

1866

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.49 [1.23, 1.81]

9.2 Carboplatin in platinum arm

7

1310

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.27 [1.07, 1.50]

Figuras y tablas -
Comparison 3. Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 3: by type of platinum agent in platinum arm)
Comparison 4. Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 4: by first‐line therapy)

Outcome or subgroup title

No. of studies

No. of participants

Statistical method

Effect size

1 Overall survival Show forest plot

19

2922

HR (95% CI)

0.98 [0.89, 1.07]

1.1 First‐line therapy for > 80% of patients

15

2486

HR (95% CI)

1.00 [0.90, 1.11]

1.2 Second‐ or third‐line therapy for ≥20% of patients

4

436

HR (95% CI)

0.89 [0.73, 1.09]

2 Progression‐free survival/time to progression Show forest plot

16

2136

HR (95% CI)

0.85 [0.78, 0.93]

2.1 First‐line therapy for > 80% of patients

11

1565

HR (95% CI)

0.93 [0.83, 1.03]

2.2 Second‐ or third‐line therapy for ≥20% of patients

5

571

HR (95% CI)

0.75 [0.65, 0.86]

3 Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants) Show forest plot

28

4130

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.15 [1.08, 1.22]

3.1 First‐line therapy for > 80% of patients

20

2983

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.14 [1.06, 1.21]

3.2 Second‐ or third‐line therapy for ≥20% of patients

8

1147

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.20 [1.02, 1.42]

Figuras y tablas -
Comparison 4. Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 4: by first‐line therapy)
Comparison 5. Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 5 by anthracycline in regimens)

Outcome or subgroup title

No. of studies

No. of participants

Statistical method

Effect size

1 Overall survival Show forest plot

19

2922

HR (95% CI)

0.98 [0.89, 1.07]

1.1 No anthracycline in platinum or non‐platinum regimens

14

2213

HR (95% CI)

0.94 [0.84, 1.05]

1.2 Platinum + anthracycline vs non‐platinum + anthracycline regimens

3

518

HR (95% CI)

1.09 [0.88, 1.34]

1.3 Platinum + anthracycline vs non‐platinum + non‐anthracycline regimens

2

191

HR (95% CI)

1.12 [0.78, 1.60]

2 Progression‐free survival/time to progression Show forest plot

16

2136

HR (95% CI)

0.85 [0.78, 0.93]

2.1 No anthracycline in platinum or non‐platinum regimens

11

1465

HR (95% CI)

0.80 [0.73, 0.88]

2.2 Platinum+anthracycline vs non‐platinum+anthracycline regimens

4

585

HR (95% CI)

1.05 [0.86, 1.27]

2.3 Platinum+anthracycline vs non‐platinum+non‐anthracycline regimens

1

86

HR (95% CI)

1.23 [0.75, 2.03]

3 Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants) Show forest plot

28

4130

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.15 [1.08, 1.22]

3.1 No anthracycline in platinum or non‐platinum regimens

18

2792

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.10 [1.02, 1.20]

3.2 Platinum+anthracycline vs non‐platinum+anthracycline regimens

6

859

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.09 [0.97, 1.22]

3.3 Platinum+anthracycline vs non‐platinum+non‐anthracycline regimens

4

479

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.49 [1.28, 1.74]

Figuras y tablas -
Comparison 5. Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 5 by anthracycline in regimens)
Comparison 6. Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 6: by taxane in regimens)

Outcome or subgroup title

No. of studies

No. of participants

Statistical method

Effect size

1 Overall survival Show forest plot

19

2922

HR (95% CI)

0.98 [0.89, 1.07]

1.1 No taxane in platinum or non‐platinum regimens

9

1092

HR (95% CI)

1.07 [0.93, 1.24]

1.2 Platinum + taxane vs non‐platinum + taxane regimens

6

1255

HR (95% CI)

0.96 [0.82, 1.11]

1.3 Platinum + non‐taxane vs non‐platinum + taxane regimens

4

575

HR (95% CI)

0.85 [0.69, 1.04]

2 Progression‐free survival / time to progression Show forest plot

16

2136

HR (95% CI)

0.85 [0.78, 0.93]

2.1 No taxane in platinum or non‐platinum regimens

9

1049

HR (95% CI)

0.92 [0.80, 1.04]

2.2 Platinum + taxane vs non‐platinum + taxane regimens

3

512

HR (95% CI)

0.84 [0.70, 1.00]

2.3 Platinum + non‐taxane vs non‐platinum + taxane regimens

4

575

HR (95% CI)

0.79 [0.69, 0.91]

3 Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants) Show forest plot

28

4130

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.15 [1.08, 1.22]

3.1 No taxane in platinum or non‐platinum regimens

17

2054

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.25 [1.15, 1.36]

3.2 Platinum + taxane vs non‐platinum + taxane regimens

6

1152

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.01 [0.90, 1.12]

3.3 Platinum + non‐taxane vs non‐platinum + taxane regimens

5

924

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.11 [0.94, 1.30]

Figuras y tablas -
Comparison 6. Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 6: by taxane in regimens)
Comparison 7. Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 7: by trastuzumab in regimens)

Outcome or subgroup title

No. of studies

No. of participants

Statistical method

Effect size

1 Overall survival Show forest plot

19

2922

HR (95% CI)

0.98 [0.89, 1.07]

1.1 No trastuzumab in platinum or non‐platinum regimens

17

2463

HR (95% CI)

0.97 [0.88, 1.08]

1.2 Platinum + trastuzumab vs non‐platinum + trastuzumab regimens

2

459

HR (95% CI)

1.00 [0.79, 1.27]

2 Progression‐free survival/time to progression Show forest plot

16

2136

HR (95% CI)

0.85 [0.78, 0.93]

2.1 No trastuzumab in platinum or non‐platinum regimens

14

1677

HR (95% CI)

0.84 [0.76, 0.92]

2.2 Platinum+trastuzumab vs non‐platinum+trastuzumab regimens

2

459

HR (95% CI)

0.90 [0.75, 1.08]

3 Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants) Show forest plot

28

4130

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.15 [1.08, 1.22]

3.1 No trastuzumab in platinum or non‐platinum regimens

26

3687

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.15 [1.07, 1.23]

3.2 Platinum+trastuzumab vs non‐platinum+trastuzumab regimens

2

443

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.14 [0.99, 1.31]

Figuras y tablas -
Comparison 7. Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (subgroup analysis 7: by trastuzumab in regimens)
Comparison 8. Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (sensitivity analysis 1: excluding selected treatment‐comparisons)

Outcome or subgroup title

No. of studies

No. of participants

Statistical method

Effect size

1 Overall survival (restricted to the 12 treatment‐comparisons common to OS and PFS/TTP meta‐analyses) Show forest plot

12

1571

HR (95% CI)

0.92 [0.81, 1.04]

2 Progression‐free survival/time to progression (restricted to the 12 treatment‐comparisons common to OS and PFS/TTP meta‐analyses) Show forest plot

12

1571

HR (95% CI)

0.80 [0.73, 0.88]

3 Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants‐ restricted to the 19 treatment‐comparisons in OS meta‐analyses) Show forest plot

19

2685

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)

1.13 [1.05, 1.22]

Figuras y tablas -
Comparison 8. Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (sensitivity analysis 1: excluding selected treatment‐comparisons)
Comparison 9. Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (sensitivity analysis 2: Progression‐free survival vs. time to progression)

Outcome or subgroup title

No. of studies

No. of participants

Statistical method

Effect size

1 Progression‐free survival vs time to progression Show forest plot

16

2136

HR (95% CI)

0.85 [0.78, 0.93]

1.1 Progression‐free survival

9

1324

HR (95% CI)

0.92 [0.82, 1.03]

1.2 Time to progression

7

812

HR (95% CI)

0.78 [0.69, 0.88]

Figuras y tablas -
Comparison 9. Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (sensitivity analysis 2: Progression‐free survival vs. time to progression)
Comparison 10. Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (sensitivity analysis 3: Analyses 1 repeated but with random effects approach)

Outcome or subgroup title

No. of studies

No. of participants

Statistical method

Effect size

1 Overall survival Show forest plot

19

Hazard Ratio (Random, 95% CI)

0.98 [0.87, 1.11]

1.1 Treatment‐comparisons assessing patients with mTNBC

3

Hazard Ratio (Random, 95% CI)

0.73 [0.51, 1.04]

1.2 Treatment‐comparisons assessing patients unselected for mTNBC

16

Hazard Ratio (Random, 95% CI)

1.02 [0.90, 1.16]

2 Progression‐free survival/time to progression Show forest plot

16

Hazard Ratio (Random, 95% CI)

0.88 [0.76, 1.02]

2.1 Treatment‐comparisons assessing patients with mTNBC

3

Hazard Ratio (Random, 95% CI)

0.55 [0.38, 0.78]

2.2 Treatment‐comparisons assessing patients unselected for mTNBC

13

Hazard Ratio (Random, 95% CI)

0.96 [0.85, 1.09]

3 Objective tumour response rate (assessable participants) Show forest plot

28

4130

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

1.17 [1.05, 1.30]

3.1 Treatment‐comparisons assessing patients with mTNBC

5

878

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

1.60 [1.04, 2.45]

3.2 Treatment‐comparisons assessing patients unselected for mTNBC

23

3252

Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

1.13 [1.01, 1.25]

Figuras y tablas -
Comparison 10. Platinum vs non‐platinum regimens (sensitivity analysis 3: Analyses 1 repeated but with random effects approach)