Purpose

Local treatments, including iodine-125 (125I) seeds insertion (ISI) and trans-arterial chemical infusion (TAI), were used for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) cases. The present meta-analysis investigated the clinical efficacy of combined TAI and ISI for advanced lung cancer (LC).

Material and methods

This meta-analysis was performed according to preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement. Relevant studies were searched in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINK, Wanfang, and VIP (until October 2021) databases, using the following key words: (((((Iodine-125) OR (I125)) OR (125I)) OR (brachytherapy)) AND ((lung cancer) OR (NSCLC))) AND (chemotherapy). Outcomes included complete response rate (CRR), treatment success rate (TSR), disease control rate (DCR), 1-year survival rate, 2-year survival rate, overall survival (OS), and treatment-related toxicity. RevMan v. 5.3 and Stata v. 12.0 were applied for meta-analysis.

Results

Eight studies were included in the evaluation. Three hundred and seventy-seven patients underwent combined TAI and ISI treatment (combined group), while 397 patients underwent TAI alone (TAI alone group). The pooled CRR (p = 0.001), TSR (p < 0.00001), DCR (p < 0.00001), 1-year survival rate (p < 0.00001), OS duration (p = 0.0002), and gastrointestinal reaction rate (p = 0.02) were superior in combined group. The pooled 2-year survival rate increased in combined cohort than in TAI alone group (p = 0.08). The pooled myelosuppression rates were comparable between the 2 groups (p = 0.29). Publication bias was not found in any of endpoints.

Conclusions

ISI can enhance TAI clinical efficacy in clinical cases of advanced LC, excluding severe adverse events.