Recurrence-Free Survival in Patients With Surgically Resected Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Standard treatment for early-stage or locoregionally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) includes surgical resection. Recurrence after surgery is commonly reported, but a summary estimate for postsurgical recurrence-free survival (RFS) in patients with NSCLC is lacking.

Research Question: What is the RFS after surgery in patients with stage I-III NSCLC at different time points, and what factors are associated with RFS?

Study Design And Methods: A systematic search was performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases between January 2011 and June 2021.