title: Prognostic role of hypoxic inducible factor expression in non-small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Reported prognostic roles of hypoxic inducible factor (HIF) expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have varied. This meta-analysis aimed to examine the relationship between HIF expression and clinical outcome in NSCLC patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  PubMed were used to identify relevant literature with the last report up to December 20th, 2012. After careful review, survival data were collected from eligible studies. We completed the meta-analysis using Stata statistical software (Version 11) and combined hazard ratio (HR) for overall survival (OS). Subgroup specificity, heterogeneity and publication bias were also assessed. All of the results were verified by two persons to ensure accuracy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight studies were finally stepped into this meta-analysis in which seven had available data for HIF-1α and three for HIF-2α. Combined HRs suggested that higher expression of HIF1α had a negative impact on NSCLC patient survival (HR=1.50; 95%CI =1.07-2.10; p=0.019). The expression of HIF-2α was also relative to a poorer survival (HR=2.02; 95%CI =1.47-2.77; p=0.000). No bias existed in either of the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that elevations of HIF-1α and HIF- 2α expression are both associated with poor outcome for patients with NSCLC. The data support further and high quality investigation of HIF expression for predicting poor outcome in patients with NSCLC.
authors.affiliation: Huaxi Student Society of Oncology Research, West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Cong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hua-Jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Fei-Fei
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Na
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Jian-Xin
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Jing-Wen
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yu-Qing
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qiao-Ling
authors.initials: QL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: You
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D000099162:Endothelial PAS Domain-Containing Protein 1
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D000099162:Endothelial PAS Domain-Containing Protein 1; C497442:HIF1A protein, human