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Is the CyberKnife© radiosurgery system effective and safe for patients? An umbrella review of the evidence

    Yifan Cheng

    Medical Device Regulatory Research & Evaluation Centre, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China

    Chinese Evidence-Based Medicine Centre, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China

    ‡Authors contributed equally

    Search for more papers by this author

    ,
    Yifei Lin

    Medical Device Regulatory Research & Evaluation Centre, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China

    Precision Medicine Research Centre, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China

    ‡Authors contributed equally

    Search for more papers by this author

    ,
    Youlin Long

    Medical Device Regulatory Research & Evaluation Centre, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China

    ,
    Liang Du

    Medical Device Regulatory Research & Evaluation Centre, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China

    ,
    Rui Chen

    School of Clinical Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, PR China

    ,
    Tengyue Hu

    West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China

    ,
    Qiong Guo

    Medical Device Regulatory Research & Evaluation Centre, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China

    ,
    Ga Liao

    *Author for correspondence: Tel.: +86 028 8542 1915;

    E-mail Address: liaoga.scu@qq.com

    State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Centre for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China

    Medical Big Data Centre, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China

    Department of Information Management, Department of Stomatology Informatics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China

    &
    Jin Huang

    **Author for correspondence: Tel.: +86 028 8542 1915;

    E-mail Address: michael_huangjin@163.com

    Medical Device Regulatory Research & Evaluation Centre, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China

    Published Online:https://doi.org/10.2217/fon-2021-0844

    Background: The CyberKnife© system combines real-time image guidance and a dynamic tracking system to implement frameless radiotherapy. This umbrella review is aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of CyberKnife. Methods: A comprehensive search of health technology assessments and systematic reviews was performed among the Embase, PubMed and other grey databases until July 2020. Treatment outcomes were extracted, and the quality of included studies were assessed using AMSTAR-2. Results: Nineteen studies were eligible. CyberKnife not only had a wide range of applications, long overall survival and great local control, but also had a limited toxicity and good cost–effectiveness compared with other radiotherapy equipment. Conclusion: Despite the relatively low quality of the evidence, our findings can still provide a decision reference for policymakers.

    Plain language summary

    An umbrella review on the effectiveness and safety of the CyberKnife© system was performed by comprehensively searching for all related publications. The CyberKnife system had excellent effect on treatment of cancer and some noncancer diseases, with limited toxicity. Additionally, it was a cost-effective treatment compared with other types of radiotherapy. Despite the relatively low quality of the included evidence, our findings can still provide a comprehensive decision reference for policymakers of patients, government and hospitals.

    Papers of special note have been highlighted as: • of interest

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