title: Female gender is an independent prognostic factor in non-small-cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It is not clear whether women with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) live significantly longer than men. Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis of published studies to quantitatively compare NSCLC survival data between genders.
  
  
  METHODS
  A MEDLINE Web search for computer-archived bibliographic data regarding overall survival differences between genders was performed. DerSimonian-Laird random effects analysis was used to estimate the pooled hazard ratio (HR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We selected 39 articles as appropriate data sources, involving 86 800 patients including 32 701 women and 54 099 men. Combined HRs for women vs. men in studies using univariate and multivariate analyses respectively were 0.79 (p <0.0001) and 0.78 (p <0.0001). Pooled HRs for 3 study subgroups having (1) fewer than 30% stage I cases, (2) fewer than 50% adenocarcinoma cases, and (3) statistical adjustment for smoking status all indicated the survival advantage of women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This meta-analysis of published data concerning NSCLC patients indicated significantly better survival for women.
authors: Departments of Chest Surgery, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors: Haruhiko
authors: H
authors: Nakamura
authors: Koji
authors: K
authors: Ando
authors: Takuo
authors: T
authors: Shinmyo
authors: Katsuhiko
authors: K
authors: Morita
authors: Atsushi
authors: A
authors: Mochizuki
authors: Noriaki
authors: N
authors: Kurimoto
authors: Shinobu
authors: S
authors: Tatsunami
mesh_terms: D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000401:mortality; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome