Literature Search
This Systematic review was designed to summarize the available data
addressing the following research question, framed in the
Population-Intervention-Comparator- Outcome-Study design (PICOS)
framework: (Population) Patients with haematological malignancies;
(Intervention) subgroup analysis; (Comparison) studies with comparator
will be considered; (Outcomes), subgroup analysis; (Study design), phase
III randomized clinical trials.
A systematic search was performed following Preferred Reporting Items
for a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA)
guidelines18. The search was performed using Mesh
terms-controlled vocabulary and keywords in MEDLINE database (OVID
interfaz including In-process and Epub ahead of print) between January
2013 and October 2019, to identify publications of phase III RCT
assessing systemic therapies for haematological malignancies.
The search was performed on October 2019. The full literature search
strategy is available at supplemental material (Appendix A).
The following criteria were used for trial selection
Eligibility criteria:
We considered eligible all published Phase III randomized clinical
trials for haematological malignancies with subgroup analysis
reported. Not language restriction was applied.
Exclusion criteria:
- Paediatric patients (<18 years of age).
- Pooled data from two or more trials.
- Studies exploring devices, behavioural or supportive care
interventions.
- The report does not include the entire population enrolled in the
original article (i.e. the report focuses on a subset of the original
study population).
In cases were multiple publications from the same trial were identified,
the initial publication was used for the analysis if it was published
during the studied period.