RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The role of EGF-R expression on patient survival in lung cancer: a systematic review with meta-analysis
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 975
OP 981
DO 10.1183/09031936.02.00296502
VO 20
IS 4
A1 A-P. Meert
A1 B. Martin
A1 P. Delmotte
A1 T. Berghmans
A1 J-J. Lafitte
A1 C. Mascaux
A1 M. Paesmans
A1 E. Steels
A1 J-M. Verdebout
A1 J-P. Sculier
YR 2002
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/20/4/975.abstract
AB The prognostic value of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) for survival of patients with lung cancer remains controversial. The authors performed a systematic review of the literature in order to clarify its impact. Published studies were identified using an electronic search in order to aggregate the available survival results, after a methodological assessment using a scale specifically designed by the European Lung Cancer Working Party (ELCWP). To be eligible, a study had to have dealt with EGF-R assessment in lung cancer patients on the primary site and to have analysed survival according to EGF-R expression. Among the 16 eligible studies, 14 assessed any nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) subtype, one adenocarcinoma only and one squamous-cell carcinoma only. The overall median quality score was 56.3%, with no significant difference either between studies assessable or not assessable for meta-analysis or between studies with significant and nonsignificant results. One individual trial reported a survival benefit for patients with EGF-R expression, three a survival disadvantage and 12 no statistically significant difference. Eleven studies (2,185 patients) provided sufficient data to allow a meta-analysis of the survival results. EGF-R expression positivity was determined according to the cut-off as determined by the authors. The meta-analysis showed that EGF-R expression was not a statistically significant prognostic factor for survival in NSCLC. In the subgroup of studies using immunohistochemistry, statistical tests reached a significant level against EGF-R. Epidermal growth factor receptor might be a poor prognostic factor for survival in nonsmall-cell lung cancer. The amplitude of the impact is small, however, and may be subject to publication bias. This study was supported by an FNRS-Télévie grant (7.4512.98), Belgium. A-P. Meert is an FNRS research fellow.