Table 1 Summary of studies reporting systemic anticancer therapy near the end of life

Gilsch 2019 [4]

USA

Deaths of patients who received immune checkpoint inhibitors

I

27%

Ang 2018 [11]

New Zealand

Patients who received SACT

CT T I

5.2%

Burgers 2018 [12]

The Netherlands

Patients with stage III or IV lung cancer treated with SACT

CT

6.2% (within 30 days of first cycle of chemotherapy)

GIlbar 2018 [13]

Australia

Patients who received SACT

CT T

5.6%

Hiramoto 2018 [14]

Japan

Deaths of patients who received SACT with palliative intent

CT

16.7%

Massa 2018 [15]

Italy

Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who received SACT

CT

7.1% (last 14 days of life)

Dasch 2017 [16]

Germany

Inpatient deaths of patients with cancer

CT

38.3%

Falchook 2017 [17]

USA

Patients with metastatic lung, colorectal, breast, pancreas and prostate cancer

CT

10.1–14.1% (within the last 14 days of life)

Kraut 2017 [18]

USA

Deaths of patients with cancer

CT

6–16%

Wilson 2017 [19]

New Zealand

Patients who received SACT

CT

2.2%

Wallington 2016 [20]

UK

Patients with lung cancer who received SACT

CT T

8%

Patients with breast cancer who received SACT

CTT

2%

Wein 2016 [21]

Australia

Deaths of patients managed with palliative intent

CT E T

26%

Khoja 2015 [22]

UK

Deaths of patients who received SACT

CT T I

4%

Pacetti 2015 [23]

Italy

Deaths of patients who received SACT with palliative intent

CT

24.3%

Philip 2015 [24]

Australia

Metastatic non small cell lung cancer

CT

1% (last 14 days of life)

Andelkovic 2013 [25]

Australia

Patients who received SACT

CT T

6.9%

Zdenkowski 2013 [26]

Australia

Patients who received SACT with palliative intent

CT T

12.2%

Yoong 2012 [27]

Australia

Patients who received SACT

CT T

3.4%

Kao 2009 [28]

Australia

Deaths of patients managed with palliative intent

CT

10%

Mort 2008 [10]

UK

Patients who received SACT

CT

2%