title: Prognostic value of epidermal growth factor receptor in patients with gastric cancer: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays important roles in the development of gastric cancer. This study aims to analyze the prognostic value of EGFR in patients with gastric cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A meta-analysis is performed by searching Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE and Science Direct databases from Jan 1970 to May 2013. Data are extracted from studies evaluating the survival of gastric cancer patients with either positive or negative EGFR expression. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) are calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Totally 1600 cases of gastric cancer patients from five studies are subjected to final analysis. The HR of post-operational survival of patients with positive EGFR expression is 1.16 (95% CI: 0.94-1.43) as compared with those with negative expression, indicating that positive EGFR expression does not significantly predict the poor survival of gastric cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EGFR expression is not an independent predictor for the survival of gastric cancer patients.
authors: State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032 Shaanxi Province, China. Electronic address: hongliu180@126.com.
authors: Liu
authors: L
authors: Hong
authors: Yu
authors: Y
authors: Han
authors: Jianjun
authors: J
authors: Yang
authors: Hongwei
authors: H
authors: Zhang
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Jin
authors: Lubi
authors: L
authors: Brain
authors: Mengbin
authors: M
authors: Li
authors: Qingchuan
authors: Q
authors: Zhao
mesh_terms: D016001:Confidence Intervals; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D066246:ErbB Receptors
keywords: CIs; EGFR; Epidermal growth factor receptor; Gastric cancer; HRs; IHC; MOOSE; Observational Studies in Epidemiology group; Prognosis; Survival; confidence intervals; epidermal growth factor receptor; hazard ratios; immunohistochemistry