Depending on the cytotoxic bystander effect of the therapeutic modality associated with the antibody fragment, extensive tumor penetration may not be necessary [19, 22, 23].
In the second positive CRRT dose/outcome study [ 7], even though the modality associated with better survival was also the predilution CVVHDF, the dose was higher (42 ml/kg/hour) and a greater proportion of the dose was provided by convection rather than by diffusion, relative to the ATN Study.
Similarly other studies have found that belief in efficacy or legitimacy of selected CM modalities was associated with high frequency of GPs' recommendation of the modality to patients [ 10, 25].
Slower responses in different modalities are associated with cost in switching attention, and the effort made in switching modalities speaks against the idea that knowledge is represented in a modality-free manner.
These therapeutic modalities were associated with a hospital survival of 51, 47, 11, 41, 34 and 57%, respectively.
Nevertheless, the outcome of these patients remains poor[2] and it is unknown which patient characteristics or treatment modalities are associated with a better outcome.
We thus felt the need to perform a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate how treatment modalities are associated with survival.
Increased use of some of the therapeutic modalities was associated with greater resource utilization.
The combination of both treatment modalities is associated with a threefold increased risk.
