Advice

Appendix: Search strategy and evidence selection

Appendix: Search strategy and evidence selection

Search strategy

General background, guidelines and technology assessments:

  • Broad internet search: allintitle: ovarian bevacizumab OR avastin filetype:pdf

  • Trip Database

MEDLINE (via Ovid)

  1. exp Ovarian Neoplasms/

  2. (ovar$ and (cancer or neoplasm or tumour or tumor)).mp.

  3. 1 or 2

  4. (bevacizumab or avastin or R435 or RG435 or rhuMAbVEGF).mp.

  5. 3 and 4

Embase (via Ovid)

  1. exp Ovarian Neoplasms/

  2. (ovar$ and (cancer or neoplasm or tumour or tumor)).ti.

  3. 1 or 2

  4. (bevacizumab or avastin or R435 or RG435 or rhuMAbVEGF).ti.

  5. bevacizumab/

  6. 4 or 5

  7. 3 and 6

Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL)

#1 MeSH descriptor: [Ovarian Neoplasms] explode all trees

#2 (over* and [cancer or neoplasm or tumour or tumor]):ti, ab

#3 #1 or #2

#4 (bevacizumab or avastin or R435 or RG435 or rhuMAbVEGF):ti,ab

#5 #3 and #4

CRD HTA, DARE and EED database

  1. MeSH DESCRIPTOR Ovarian Neoplasms EXPLODE ALL TREES

  2. (bevacizumab or avastin):ti

  3. #1 AND #2

Grey literature and ongoing trials

Manufacturers' websites

Roche

Evidence selection

The focus of the literature search was on use of bevacizumab 7.5 mg/kg for ovarian cancer. The search returned 194 articles, which was reduced to 44 during the first sift. This eliminated all non-randomised controlled trial (RCT) studies but included any ongoing trials if the dosage was unclear.

From the 44 sifted results, studies that looked at the licensed dose of bevacizumab 15 mg/kg were excluded. One phase III RCT was identified as the best available evidence that examined the effectiveness of bevacizumab 7.5mg/kg in ovarian cancer. An adjunct to this trial measured quality of life outcomes. Other sources were used for background information and context.