AIM: To study the effectiveness of second-linetreatments for advancer gastric cancer by application of Bayesian network meta-analysis.METHODS: Our search covered the literature up to February 2015. The following 6 treatments were evaluated:(1) irinotecan(camptothecins);(2) paclitaxel(taxanes class);(3) docetaxel(taxanes);(4) everolimus(mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors);(5) ramucirumab(vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 inhibitors);(6) ramucirumab + paclitaxel. Our methodology was based on standard models of Bayesian network meta-analysis. The reference treatment was best supportive care(BSC). The endpoint was overall survival. Median survival was the outcome measure along with 95% credible intervals. RESULTS: Our search identified a total of 7 randomized controlled trials. These trials included 2298 patients(in 15 treatment arms) in whom a total of 6 active treatments were evaluated as well as BSC. There were 21 head-to-head comparisons(6 direct, 15 indirect). The difference in survival between each of two active treatments(paclitaxel and ramucirumab + paclitaxel) vs BSC was statistically significant, while the other 4 showed no statistical difference. In the 6 head-to-head comparisons between active treatments, no significant survival difference was demonstrated. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that both paclitaxel monotherapy and ramucirumab + paclitaxel determine a significant prolongation in survival as compared with BSC. AIM: To study the effectiveness of second-line threments for advancer gastric cancer by application of Bayesian network meta-analysis. METHODS: Our search covered the literature up to February 2015. The following 6 treatments were evaluated: (1) irinotecan (camptothecins); (2) paclitaxel (taxanes class); (3) docetaxel (taxanes); (4) everolimus (mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors); (5) ramucirumab (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 inhibitors); (6) ramucirumab + paclitaxel. The methodology was based on standard models of Bayesian network meta-analysis. The reference treatment was best supportive care (BSC). The endpoint was overall survival. Median survival was the outcome measure along with 95% credible intervals. There were 21 head-to-head comparisons (6 direct, 15 indirect). The di fference in survival between each of two active treatments (paclitaxel and ramucirumab + paclitaxel) vs the other 4 showed no statistical difference. In the 6 head-to-head comparisons between active treatments, no significant survival difference CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that both both paclitaxel monotherapy and ramucirumab + paclitaxel determine a significant prolongation in survival as compared with BSC.