Statistical analysis
DISEASE
In sample size estimate, 24 months of accrual period and 6 months of follow-up period were assumed. The study was designed with two-sided, α = 0.05, 85% power to detect a null median PFS of 2.8 months and experimental median PFS of 5.6 months (All statistical analyses were conducted by using SPSS version 18 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). The categorical data was described as frequency or percentage (%), and the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability method was used for comparison between groups. Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank test were used for survival analysis. The stratified analysis was performed according to the number of chemotherapy lines for advanced disease. 